Introduction
In the built world, buildings generate nearly 40% of annual global GHG emissions, with facades accounting for over half of a building’s energy use.
International organizations such as Architecture2030 and 2030 Palette have been created to provide resources to architects and designers adhering to Architecture2030’s zero-carbon challenge. The 2030 Palette provides a highly visual and accessible online platform that meets the “how-to” needs of architects, designers, builders and planners. As a resource, 2030 Palette generates localized and decarbonized built environments worldwide.
By adhering to guidance on building facades, shading and side daylighting, FenestraPro can apply 2030 Palette recommendations using real-time data calculations, rather than just estimations like other building analysis software.
The Building Facade
The facade acts as a moderator between the exterior and interior of a building, creating comfortable internal living conditions for occupants inside. 2030 Palette uses many climate-based component facade design strategies including passive cooling, shaded walls, glazing, and reflected daylighting.
FenestraPro has features such as the Facade Manager, Glazing Analysis Application and Glazing Database that focus directly on how a facade can be utilized to increase occupant comfort and mitigate project cost.
East and West Shading
The use of external shading devices is known to reduce solar heat gain (through glazing) by up to 80%. By deflecting sunlight before it reaches the interior or exterior of a building, designers can drastically reduce the amount of heat that enters.
FenestraPro has powerful shading design features, allowing designers to quantify and visualize the impacts of shading devices on different orientations. Whether designers use vertical fins, awnings, or canopies, FenestraPro provides data on the impact of shading strategies and passive considerations.
Side Daylighting
2030 Palette recommends strategies to block the direct line of sight to the sun, including east/west glazing and solar glazing. It is critical to design a building with the direction of the sun in mind to lower the impact on occupant comfort, prevent glare and reduce the light contrast between surfaces. FenestraPro not only enables designers to set an overall window-to-wall ratio for a project, but to understand the impact of daylighting, solar loads, and thermal performances for that space and surface.
Conclusion
While having the resources to create net zero-carbon projects for the built environment is critical, the ability to have real-time data calculations and reporting of sustainable design strategies is critical to eliminating risk and late-stage redesign. FenestraPro is used by top firms in green building, enabling us to share our knowledge of passive design strategies for net zero-carbon.
