Climate-Adaptive Building Materials: Innovative Approaches
In the face of climate extremes, climate-resilient buildings are crucial. With 2023 being the hottest year on record, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has proposed strategies to shield buildings from climate change, focusing on managing extreme temperatures and energy needs.
These groundbreaking technologies emerge as key to combatting extreme temperatures in creating climate-resilient buildings
Phase-change materials (PCMs), which store and release energy during phase transition, are leading the way. Used in building exteriors, they enhance thermal performance, reduce energy use, and maintain thermal comfort. However, their application poses challenges such as potential leakage during the liquid phase.
Mirian Velay-Lizancos from Purdue University proposes incorporating PCMs into prefabricated building modules using liquid immersion and a vacuum. This method boosts standard building products and concentrates PCMs where they’re most effective. The result is increased thermal inertia and compressive strength, without leakage concerns.
Texas A&M researchers have developed a 3D-printable composite of PCMs and light-sensitive liquid resins, achieving a 40% improvement in thermal response. This method, says scientist Emily Pentzer, could offer passive temperature regulation in both new builds and existing structures.
Despite the benefits, wider PCM implementation remains a work in progress. Studies show they work best in hot climates, while another suggests they outperform in colder climates. The idea of climate-conscious building methods is not new; the Kaunas team references Socrates’ 2,500-year-old methods as they continue to develop PCMs.