Project Title and Description
This project proposes to design and analyze the performance of a lightweight building design that integrates phase change materials (PCM) to improve the thermal properties of the building. The students will select examples of existing heavy-weight building designs suitable for Mediterranean climates or southern parts of the US (e.g. Texas) and use this as a baseline to design a lightweight building that integrates PCM interior walls aimed at reducing air conditioning loads during warm seasons. Once the building is designed, students will analyze the energy performance of the building and complete a life cycle assessment of energy and GHG emissions for the construction and use of the building.
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Sabrina Spatari and Dr. Yaghoob Farnam
Please contact the faculty advisors at spatari@drexel.edu or yfarnam@coe.drexel.edu.
Team Make-up by Discipline
Ideally, a combination of structural engineers, construction materials/architectural engineers, and architectural engineers specializing in HVAC design.