Comparative energy and economic performance analysis of an electrochromic window and automated external venetian blind

A virtual test cell representing a portion of an office building was modeled in order to evaluate the energy balance and the economic convenience related to the use, as solar control devices, of a switchable electrochromic glazing system (EG) and of an automated external venetian blind system (VB). Furthermore, results were compared with a so-called base case (BC) of the glazed component, with no exterior solar shading. The virtual test cell is supposed located in Milan, Italy. The operation of both shading systems was set in order to minimize undesirable solar heat gains during cooling season and to maximize them during heating season and also in order to optimize the daylighting performance without having glare effect on the work plane. The energy balance of the selected systems was done considering the annual primary energy consumption for heating, cooling, lighting, shading system operation and the glazed systems’ embodied energy annual quota. Finally, a further comparison in terms of economic convenience was done. Simulations were performed using EnergyPlus 7.0 dynamic simulation engine in conjunction with BESTenergy Graphic User Interface.