Application of phase change materials (PCMs) in administrative building’s envelope to improve its thermal comfort

Renewable energy sources and technologies such as phase change materials (PCMs) have the potential to greatly decrease the ecological footprint of buildings and address the challenges posed by global warming. The integration of PCMs into buildings for thermal energy storage can enhance their thermal efficiency and overall comfort levels, presenting a fresh and forward-thinking solution that resonates with the ongoing emphasis on sustainability and energy conservation in the field of engineering research.The objective of the study is to propose a strategy utilizing passive cooling techniques in constructing flexible building envelopes to enhance both thermal comfort and energy efficiency in Egypt. This approach involves integrating thermal energy storage materials like phase change materials (PCMs) into building components. By employing PCMs, it becomes possible to regulate thermal loads effectively, resulting in considerable energy savings. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated through case studies of buildings where PCMs were utilized, as well as simulations conducted on a hypothetical building situated in Egypt. The simulation study is conducted on an administrative building using DesignBuilder v6.1.0.006 to demonstrate the effect of PCM integration on the building envelope on the thermal comfort and the building energy saving. The simulation results are reported in this work.