Switching daylight: Performance prediction of climate adaptive ETFE foil façades

This paper reports on the daylighting performance of switchable ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) foil in double-skin façades (DSF). In contrast to conventional glazing or static ETFE façades, moderates incident daylight and controls internal light distribution by actively responding weather conditions solar intensity. To better understand control function impact parameters such as climate, latitude window-to-wall ratios (WWR), a validated optical model was used evaluate different DSF designs. were modelled with Bidirectional-scattering distribution-function (BSDF) spectral data, obtained from experimental measurements, accurately represent specular diffuse transmittance. Based five-phase method, parametric climate data-driven simulation an office room façade designs conducted for three scenarios (Oceanic, Mediterranean, Sub-Tropical). When employing WWRs (30–90%), annual increase useful illuminance (UDI) 11 69% range 500–2000lx recorded. The calculated glare probability (DGPs) declined 59% best-case scenarios, providing working imperceptible 94% scheduled time. Simultaneously, uniformity ratio (UR) increased up 19% compared double-glazed façade. Significant improvements quality achieved large windows climates abundant available all year long. Overall, this study contributes expanding knowledge adaptive membrane demonstrating their capacity enhance indoor spaces climates.