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Over the last decade, a number of research and innovation projects have started developing modular facade retrofit solutions which integrate on-site renewable energy technologies. Although there are a growing number of academic articles and demonstration projects showcasing their achievements, the overview of current status and development trend are missing. It is difficult for policymakers, the public and fellow researchers to understand the evolution of modular facade retrofit technologies and who are the important players in the field. As a part of the ongoing European Commission Horizon 2020 project team, the authors decided to write this review article that meets the above needs. Due to the lack of clarification in previous studies, this article firstly introduced and defined the term of Modular Facade Retrofit with Renewable energy technologies (MFRRn), then provided its classification and the review of recent evolution. The MFRRn refer to the retrofitting process that thermal insulation, solar and wind harvest technologies are integrated with the exterior finish of building using modular approach. According to our definition, the MFRRn should fulfil four basic aspects: work to be conducted on existing buildings, work to be undertaken on the facade, using a modular approach, and integrating renewable energy technologies during the retrofit. This study then reviewed 173 research projects funded under the European Commission the seventh Framework, the Horizon 2020's Energy Efficient Buildings programme, the International Energy Agency Energy in Buildings and Communities (IEA EBC) Annex 50 'Prefab Systems for Low Energy/High Comfort Building Renewal' project, the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action TU1403 'Adaptive facades network'. The review shows that at least 14 European Commission research projects and 4 case studies mentioned in COST TU1403 and IEA Annex 50 have involved in certain of level of MFRRn development. Their research progress, timeframe, funding scale and funding flow to nations and contributions from key institutes are analysed. Finally, the current challenges regarding the MFRRn developments and implementations are discussed, and future research focus is proposed.

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This study aims to investigate and quantify the porosity in the cross section of Phyllostachys edulis (Moso bamboo) culm wall. The porosity results are expected to be utilised in numerical study of heat and moisture transfer. Computed tomography (CT) and backscattered electron (BSE) imaging methods are utilised in this study because these two methods allow measurements of the anisotropic features of bamboo specimens. The results of these two methods can be represented as the function of the real dimension rather than the pore size distribution of the specimen. The specimens are obtained from eight different locations along the Moso bamboo culms. Both internodes and nodes specimens are measured in this study. The average porosity, standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (COV) are calculated for BSE and CT results. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (PPMCC) is also calculated in this study to analyse the correlation between the BSE results and CT results. Typical porosity results from 400 sampling points and 10 portions average porosity are analysed in this study. The CT scanning results show similar trend with BSE results. The correlation relationship between BSE and CT results approaches moderate correlation level to strong correlation level. The average porosity of internode specimens is from 43.9 to 58.8 % by BSE measurement and from 44.9 to 63.4 % by CT measurement. The average porosity of node specimens is from 37.4 to 56.6 % by BSE measurement and from 32.1 to 62.2 % by CT measurement.

This study measured the water vapour diffusion resistance factor of the Moso bamboo specimens in all directions of the cylindrical coordinate system at both internode parts and node parts. The measurement was conducted by the dry cup method. Major findings included three aspects. The water vapour diffusion resistance factor results of Moso bamboo specimens present a decreasing trend from the external surface to the internal surface in the radial directions. This fact may be attributed to the more densified fibre cells and low quantity of pits at the external surface. The water vapour diffusion resistance factor of bamboo specimens is remarkably lower in the longitudinal direction than in the radial and tangential directions. The large diameter, high interconnectivity and straight structure of the vascular bundle vessel influence the lower water vapour diffusion resistance factor in the longitudinal direction. The majority of the node specimens demonstrated lower water vapour diffusion resistance factor values than the internode specimens in the radial and tangential directions. The irregular orientation of vascular bundle vessels in different directions can be considered as the reason.