Switchable Thermal Insulation for increasing energy efficiency of building facades

A Switchable Thermal Insulation (STI) for using solar energy in winter was developed and evaluated at a test facade. As opposite to STI developed in previous research which was sealed by expensive and thermally inefficient stainless steel sheets, the new device with a switching function based on hydrogen and getter materials was scaled by high harrier foils. The results show a high energy input of about 67 kWh m(-2) by using solar energy at the facade during one heating period. With a combination of STI and a massive wall the captured solar heat is transported through the facade with a time offset. Thus, nightly inside wall heating is possible.