Ecological approach for the evaluation of intelligence energy features in a buildingʹs skin

The recent development of ‘intelligent’ features and techniques for buildings’ skins are intended to meet certain energy targets. These targets are rarely looked at in an integral way. Research in this area aims to reduce energy consumption as a consequence of using certain intelligent features. The importance of such features in a wider environmental scope is often ignored. This paper attempts to set criteria based on the energy flow principles in integral natural systems to evaluate the energy performance in an intelligent skin and relates to a certain definition of ‘intelligence’ in buildings’ skins, drawing a list of features that can reflect this definition. A list of 23 carefully chosen buildings has been prepared as case studies to check the developed criteria. Different weights for different criterion are calculated for various features based on the ecological energy principles. The conclusion refers to the variations in adopting certain intelligent features in different parts of the world.