Secondary building skin – Energy envelope

Abstract As a result of global warming, Hungary's climate characteristics are shifting towards hot, dry conditions, for which the local building stock is not prepared. The research focuses on the effectiveness of the application of the “secondary building skin”, a passive architectural solution that supports to create the required thermal comfort in buildings. The applicability of the solution is supported by measurements and simulations, combining the energy renovation possibilities of Hungarian “cube-type houses” and adaptive technology that migrates with climate. The article examines the reduction of heat load on buildings and its impact on the indoor operative temperature. Also, it shows how the visual appearance of the secondary building skin can become an architectural character element as a tool for sustainability.