Integration of a flexible tensile material in a second skin façade system: a passive method to enhance the energy performances of the Italian building scenario

Tensile materials are increasingly used in the building envelope as second-skin systems, despite a lack of investigation on their effects. In this work, a tensile material model has been validated through experimental data and used for a retrofit strategy. Eighteen simulation cases have been carried out, varying the design and the climatic conditions. The results show a reduction of the cooling energy demand (up to 42.4%), the primary energy (up to 9.12%), the CO2 equivalent emission (up to 5288.6 kgCO2,eq). However, the tensile system is more expensive than a typical retrofit action; therefore, it should be supported by supplementary grants.