Recent progress of SPIDER: Aspects of subtractive approaches to existing building’s performance improvement

Abstract

This contribution reports about methodology, progress and preliminary findings of a recent exploratory Research and Development project, pertaining to the (semi-)automated thermal retrofit of existing building’s envelopes. Thereby, the potential of robots, which autonomously identify areas of facades that can be used for inserting openings into the existing wall material, is examined. The idea is based on the fact that masonry walls of historic masonry walls (especially of Gründerzeit buildings built between 1850 and 1918) often have been structurally over-dimensioned. As such, the spare thickness of the walls could be used for thermal insulation purposes. The initial idea to implement air cavities for insulation purposes is in correspondence with the predominant functional principle of most insulation materials.

Active Air-Source Heat Storage and Release System for Solar Greenhouses: Design and Performance

“…Each compartment was connected by a door made from a double-layer wind-insulation curtain. The indoor area of each compartment was about 90 m 2 , and the volume of each space was about 280 m 3 . In each compartment, except for hardening treatment adjacent to the rear wall, the ground surface consisted of soil.…”

“…E 1 -total heat of TG and CG, J ρ g -dry air density, 1.29 kg/m 3 V-indoor volume of test greenhouse and control greenhouse, measured as 280 m 3 .…”

“…Rui et al [2] improved the utilization of solar energy by optimizing the photovoltaic installation scheme. Sommer et al [3] combined the porous method with a type of "active insulation" that uses the power of solar radiation to heat the walls on the façade, reducing heat loss by raising the internal surface temperature, as well as improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Research on the efficient use of air is also increasing year by year.…”