Energy and environmental performance optimization of a wooden window: A holistic approach

The paper reports the results of an extended investigation performed on a sample of wooden windowselected as case study. A holistic approach was chosen to define all the main parameters characterizingthe sample from the thermal, acoustic, mechanical, optical and environmental points of view. After anaccurate state of the art survey, experimental measurements and numerical simulations were performedin order to evaluate the following parameters: thermal transmittance, airborne sound insulation, solar,light and UV transmittance, air permeability, water tightness, resistance to wind load. A LCA study allowedto correlate the energy and environmental impacts. By means of a comprehensive results analysis, astandard configuration of the window was defined (Scenario 0); two optimized scenarios were thenselected, one including a solar control film in the glazing (Scenario 1) and another with a warm edge spacerreplacing a common aluminium spacer (Scenario 2). A complete energy and environmental analysiswas performed for all scenarios achieving a holistic evaluation of the benefits. Results show that intemperate climates the improvement of the window thermal characteristics, obtained through a propercontrol of solar radiation, is the most relevant criterion to optimize the overall energy and environmentalperformance of the window.