Optimum geometry and orientation of a building opening with an electrochromic glazing

Windows are considered an important factor for comfort in residential and commercial buildings. Research turned to window technology when it was realized that poor thermal characteristics resulted in serious energy and economical consumption and pollution. Following an experimental campaign, which was carried out in a PASSYS test cell which provided a complete data base, a fuzzy system was developed and tested theoretically in order to control an electrochromic glazing in the best possible way. Concerning the theoretical part a model was developed in the MATLAB SIMULINK environment. In the present paper the optimum opening characteristics and the orientation of the test cell were calculated so that a minimisation of the heating and cooling loads is achieved. Preliminary results indicated that a large opening contributes to big energy loses for the winter period while for the summer period the energy consumption is similar for all types of windows tested.