Phase-change materials for reducing building cooling needs

Abstract

This chapter shows how phase-change materials can be considered eco-efficient materials for mitigating building cooling demands. The chapter considers eco-efficiency from the point of view of materials and from the point of view of systems, that is, the use of eco-efficient materials and the use of materials that enable the system to be more eco-efficient. In this sense, phase-change materials are shown to contribute to the eco-efficiency of systems. The use of phase-change materials in passive and active systems is described in detail. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.