Evaluating new building envelope materials and assemblies for comfort and energy efficiency
For more than 35 years, ORNL’s Building Envelopes Materials Research Group has been using its expertise in heat, air, and moisture transport to develop and evaluate affordable new building envelope materials and assemblies that reduce energy use, enhance occupant comfort, and are resilient. To this end, the Building Envelope Materials Research Group collaborates with ORNL researchers that specialize in material science, polymeric chemistry, advanced manufacturing, computer vision, artificial intelligence, and domestic feedstocks. These collaborations also include industry partners that facilitate the commercialization of developed technologies.
Research areas include high-performance thermal insulation materials, self-healing materials, envelope retrofits, moisture durability, non-destructive diagnostic tools, dynamic envelopes, highly insulated windows, and controls for window shading systems. These research areas support ongoing efforts on advanced manufacturing for building construction that increase throughput, affordability, quality, and safety.