Improving the cooling performance of an Opaque Ventilated Facade using an Airflow Network Model for the Mediterranean climate

Sustainable current and future buildings require envelopes superior to conventional ones. The Mediterranean area records every year higher cooling needs and both buildings and occupants have to respond to these. In this study, a dynamic insulation ventilated façade is examined under the three warmer climatic conditions of Greece for its implementation in a multistory residential building. The EnergyPlus whole building simulation tool and its integrated Airflow Network model are used to simulate the selected building and the ventilated façade. Parameters like the cavity’s width and the vents’ opening along with the façade stratification and thermal mass location are examined regarding their influence on the system’s performance in an effort to optimize the façade’s efficiency. The system seems to perform better in the cooler climatic zone, while vents opening seems to be a decisive parameter for the cavity’s ventilation rate.