Best practice for double skin facades - The BESTFACADE project

This document aims to present the progress and the outcome of the research on double skin façades that is being carried out within the European ‘BESTFACADE’ project. Double skin facades have become an important architectural element in office buildings over the last 15 years. The demand for natural and hybrid ventilation in commercial buildings is increasing due to growing environmental consciousness while at the same time energy consumption for buildings has to be reduced. An advanced façade should allow for a comfortable indoor climate, sound protection and good daylight levels, while minimising the demand for auxiliary energy input. Double skin facades are analysed within the European ‘BESTFACADE’ project (Best Practice for Double Skin Facades) that receives partial funding from the Intelligent Energy Europe Program of the European Community. The project started in January 2005 and runs for 3 years.