The facade is the linchpin of building performance, impacting operational and embodied carbon emissions, occupant comfort, health and wellbeing and resilience to severe weather events. Yet the business-as-usual performance of facades remains poor relative to what could be possible if available, proven product technology and high-quality installation processes were fully utilized. There is a significant gap between what is technologically possible and business-as-usual.
This presentation will review the results of research conducted for the U.S. Department of Energy which lays out the complex, interconnected barriers to adoption of high-performance fenestration and façade systems in North American new and existing non-residential and multi-family buildings. It identifies states and cities where adoption of high-performance facades is accelerating, and the drivers that have facilitated adoption beyond national averages.
This study also provides a blueprint for market transformation that identifies multiple initiatives which include new deployment programs, energy code structures, innovative incentives, educational programs, critical gap-filling R&D, decision support tools, and supporting public policies. If implemented broadly, this blueprint has the potential to accelerate the adoption of high-performance façade solutions and facade retrofits.
