Energy Performance of the Opaque Ventilated Facade

The goal of this study is to characterize the thermal performance of the opaque ventilated facade from sample-scale to building scale. To begin with, a representative sample has been built in order to test it in outdoor conditions using a traceable and precise methodology. The testing equipment used is a PASLINK test cell developed by DYNASTEE network at the Basque Government Laboratory of Quality Control in Buildings.The experimental results provide information to define a mathematical model of the ventilated gap's convective behavior for the application of building scale simulation. In this way, a building dynamic simulation has been carried out by TRNSYS. Results not only show the benefits of this solution in warm climate areas and drawbacks in cold climate areas, but also provide guides for the optimization and improvement of the opaque ventilated facade.