ECOM4TILE - Advanced thermal energy storage techniques with phase change materials for residential building air conditioning
DESCRIPTION
Thermal storage in construction materials, largely due to latent heat storage (LHS), is a relatively new field that has shown great potential for heat control and saving in buildings. Phase change materials (PCM) can cool or heat a room without the need for thermal mass or additional space, simply by releasing or absorbing energy in the phase change.
ECOM4TILE will be developed on this premise. It consists in an innovative ceramic product with PCMs added to its composition that will provide it with important improvements such as energy saving (an estimated 16% on the average home’s electricity bill). In other words, a saving of almost the cost of power spent on a home’s air-conditioning in two months. And all thanks to the PCMs, which are able to accumulate and release energy little by little, saving on the energy involved in atmospheric temperature reduction and on the time air-conditioning systems or heaters are used.
OBJECTIVES
The aim is also to develop methodologies and IT tools to assess and reduce environmental impact by observing the final product’s life cycle. This will enable buyers to consider the environmental profile of the products purchased, promoting the demand and manufacturing of lower-impact construction products.
CIRCE'S ROLE
CIRCE will develop a parameterised methodology and IT tool applying the life cycle approach that will help the company CERACASA to assess and reduce the environmental impact of its products as well as create Environmental Declarations of these products (EDPs).