a.    The constructive realization in an integrated system of the building covering (the totality of perimeter closings), which is so conceived as to meet the cumulated functions of:

-    a structure of thermo-phonic isolation closure and mechanical protection against the

-    an energy converter-generator for the heating and cooling of interior spaces. Thus, the covering is designed to incorporate physically and functionally the specific heating (winter) – cooling (summer) installations, which, in this new approach, are no longer visible or present in indoor spaces, and constituted a supporting device for the accumulative and energy bearing fluid for heating, cooling and active protection against fire.

 On one hand, the essential function of closure element must achieve the reduction of energy leeks (thermal insulation) under conditions of optimal energetic efficiency where the investment costs, the costs of exploitation on a lifelong period, of production of energy for ensuring the energetic autonomy, the impact on the environment, should be in a stable and lasting balance.

Consequently, research efforts are directed at finding the optimal solutions of composition, structuring and architectural concordance with the new concept promoted through our project.

The second function, according to this concept of realization in an integrated system, is „energy management” with three subfunctions, namely:

-                     energy collector from the renewable source, through the exterior surface of the covering, which is in contact with the outer environment and the solar radiation

-                     converter into thermal and electric energy

-                     energy generator through the inner surface of the covering, heating and cooling energy, necessary to meeting the conditions on interior microclimate.  

b.       Conceiving the function of solar energy collector-converter, into thermal and electric energy, attributed to the external surface of the bulding also implies the new idea of bearing support device for the fluid that carries energy to the thermal accumulator. Thus, the outer layer of the covering is conceived as an active or/and passive collector of solar energy or of the thermal potential of the external air, made in a modular system (a field of interconnectable panels or of semicontinous type) in direct and continous connection with the circuit incorporated in the foundation soil that has the role of a thermal energy accumulator of high capacity. During the year, when the outer environment generates thermal fluxes towards the interior of the building (the warm season when the exterior temperature is greater than the optimal interior one), the external surface of the building „pumps” heat by means of the fluid in the energy collectors to the underground accumulator. The circuit is conceived in such a way that, before entering the range of collectors of the external surface, the fluid, at the temperature of the soil, passes through the interior layer of the covering (conceived identically as interconnectable panels sau or semicontinous panels). This allows the interior surface of the covering to achieve the conditioning (the cooling) of the interior air, efficiently filling the role of the conditioning devices in summertime. The advantage of this concept is the healthy way in which air conditioning is done, without creating the cold drafts that are specific to present installations, the removal of classic installations and implicitly of the bacteria that grow in their circuts. In this way one also manages to collect the surplus thermal energy of interior air during summer. This energy, which is added to the energy collected by the exterior surface, is sent to the accumulator. When the outer environment no longer offers conditions for collecting, the circuit of the fluid through the exterior surface is interrupted, while the circuit between the interior surface and the energy accumulatior remains on in order to ensure and regulate interior heating at optimal parameters. This system allows functioning throughout the year, making availabale to the user the built space, the renewable energy potential offered by the outer environment and the sun, and the capacity of storage of the soil.

The projects aims at establishing a new concept of energy supply through innovating the solutions for heat pumps used in recent years. The functioning of the circuits of energy-carrying fluids during storage is also ensured from renewable sources with active converters of solar energy into electric energy. During the exploitation of the stored energy, the circuits are design to function through natural circulation on the basis of the difference of thermal potential, in a way that would keep the efficiency of use at a maximum level. The covering is conceived with a double-layer structure. The exterior layer behind the collecting-generating surface is of the thermal system type with superior thermal insulation parameters, specific to “Low Energy” buildings. The interior layer is the field of installations for the accumulative and energy-bearing fluid for heating, cooling and active protection against fire. This layer may be conceived as a bearing metallic structur of resistance from tubular – alveolar air-tight and interconnected elements, so as to allow the entire interior surface of the covering or its section to perform energy exchanges for heating-cooling and to contain the bearing fluid connected to the active or/and passive solar energy collectors on the exterior surface or/and the energu accumulators in the building infrastructure, in the foundation soil and accumulation fluid tanks. The considered solutions are diversified according to the nature of the materials used, the building type, collector type, the double or triple-layer structure of the covering. Ideally, the interior layer should contain a thick and continous layer of water-based fluid treated for functioning at low temperatures, as water has the best thermal volatility qualities, but is also a good means of annihilating the thermal effects of fire. The circuits incorporated in the building covering may be directly connected or linked by heat exchangers to the accumulation tanks. The permanent presence of water in the structure (interior layer) of the covering is very beneficial in normal functioning conditions as well as in critical conditions, when fire finds the walls prepaired with the necessary antidote.            

c. Conceiving the function of energy generator for the conditioning of indoor air (heating and cooling) attributed to the interior surface of the building covering. This will result in eliminating the classic installations and their major inconveniences (the presence of drafts, discomfort generating air convections, the space occupied, big thermal differences etc). In this concept, the interior surface becomes a finishing element with an aesthetic role and also incorporates the functions of air conditioning (heating and cooling) and regulating interior air temperature, during wintertime as well as during summertime.

d.  The energy build-up in the infrastructure of the building and in the volume of the foundation ground is a challenging issue for research in the field of renewable sources. This project also envisages research on treatment with modern materials that possess a great thermal capacity, so that a defined volume of soil in which the building infrastructure is placed becomes the major source of stored thermal energy.

The project research has the role of generating and validating solutions leading to the optimum point among the capacity to collect rebewable energy, the accumulation capacity, the dimensioning and measurements ensuring the function of energy accumulator from the infrastructure and soil where the building is placed, the work temperatures, thermal insulation solutions, present technological elements and circuits for solar conversion (solar active-passive pannels, photovoltaic pannels), energy recovery from lighting-heating-cooling-ventilation, use of controllers and technical management unities  for buildingd, monitoring systems, moderne materials (phase changing materials), recovery of precipitation water, etc.