Jee - A Design Award

heating seasons cooling seasons

Jee is an eco-sustainable and energy-efficient window and façade system to be applied in dwellings or office buildings. It´s an object to be manufactured in series and designed to have a large range of applications both in refurbish as in new constructions. Mixing passive low-tech solutions with others more sophisticated and high-tech, Jee takes advantage from solar radiation to improve significantly: the heat exchanges, daylighting and ventilation that occur between indoor and outdoor environments. Increasing energy efficiency over 40% reduces tons of CO2 emissions from spaces operation during a 20years life cycle. The lab tests performed on a prototype during a seasons cycle confirmed it. JEE is patented (Invention Patent Nº.10379), design registered (EU Utility Model) and ready to be produced.

Jeeeco-efficient window

ab

c

Functioning

The Eco-Efficient Window consists in two systems that work together to optimize its operation, aesthetics and economic benefits: 1) A glazed window disposed vertically to improve the daylight projection into the space. Reflecting automated blinds are placed on the outer face of the glass frame. Its innovative design allows natural light to enter with all kind of intensities: it can penetrate in-depth if necessary (in winter and mid-seasons), or to shade gradually until absolute blackout (in summer or at night). Depending on the application (in housing or in office buildings) the glassed component can open or not. Nevertheless, If natural ventilation is necessary to improve the inside air quality, it can be done by using the greenhouse operable grilles. 2) The thermodynamic system. A semi-cylindrical transparent greenhouse is disposed along the vertical side of the glassed span. It is composed by two functional components: the semi-cylindrical sun-space, and the heat storage ventilated modular wall. On demand, Jee can be customized with electrical resistances disposed inside the thermal wall. Like that, we can take advantage of the low price of off-peak electrical energy, storing energy during the night period to be released it to the space, during the day. In a way Jee is also a battery. If applied facing the sun, Jee works 24h/day throughout the year using the Sun to drastically increase the performance of thermodynamics, daylight and ventilation in buildings. That is why Jee is the first façade or window system with a payback time. Due to its 40% of increased efficiency, the lab tests showed that payback can occur in 7 to 9 years, although variable with the climate conditions and sun radiation intensity of the site where the Jee will be applied.

a - semi cylindrical “sun space” (acrylic)

b - insulating door + reflector (cork + polished aluminium)

c - ventilation grille

d - thermal storage modules (PCM + concrete)

e - window or door (aluminium)

prototyping ( in CTC – conventional test cell )

instrumentation

application project to in an office building refurbishing (the headquarters of a construction company , @Leiria Portugal )