SBIR Phase II: High Performance Microalgae Building Enclosures for an Energy Efficient Retrofitting Application

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛影响是为健康，可持续的建筑环境提供节能和具有成本效益的解决方案。严格的环境保护政策为建筑业带来了减少环境影响的挑战。高性能窗户可以在减少能源使用和污染物排放方面发挥作用。创建一个减少建筑能耗和二氧化碳（CO2）排放的窗户系统可能会产生广泛的社会，经济和商业影响。所提出的生物变色窗可以作为一种替代的、节能的改造，并有助于实现净零能耗、净零碳建筑。它们的多重环境、经济和社会效益包括高能效、改善空气质量、碳捕获和可再生能源生产。节能窗户改造占全球窗户市场份额的60%以上。于二零二一年，全球窗户市场增长至100亿美元（用于更换及翻新）及60亿美元（用于新建），复合年增长率分别为8. 6%及8. 3%。这种节能的碳汇技术可以节省20~30%的能源和减少碳排放。良好的空气质量进一步有利于居住者的健康和福祉，使建筑物对居住者、行业专业人士和利益相关者更具吸引力。生物变色窗的关键技术创新是将生物细胞整合到商业建筑改造应用的窗户组件中。作为在室内和室外环境之间进行调节的主要建筑物外壳系统，生物变色窗提供改进的隔热、动态遮阳功效、日光穿透、到外部的视野、二氧化碳（CO2）生物固定和生物质生产，所有这些都是改进的建筑物能量效率、良好的室内空气质量、有益的碳封存、新型生物燃料生产和用户满意度的属性。该项目的主要目标是：1）生物变色窗的原型，与智能控制系统集成，以实现最大性能; 2）进行性能测试并获得性能证书;以及3）扩大大规模生产制造并在早期采用者的建筑物中进行技术演示。项目成果旨在节省供暖、制冷和人工照明负荷方面的建筑能耗，同时生产现场可再生能源和封存二氧化碳。生物变色窗户，加上智能控制系统，根据太阳能强度和碳浓度进一步提高经济和环境性能。生物变色窗内的观景区全年都有采光。接近绿色大自然，预计将提供美学质量和情感舒适的用户满意度。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is in enabling an energy-efficient and cost-effective solution for a healthy, sustainable built environment. Stringent environmental protection policies are presenting the building industry with challenges in reducing environmental impacts. High performing windows could play an role in reducing energy use and pollutant emissions. Creating a window system that reduces building energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions may have broad societal, economic, and commercial impacts. The proposed biochromic windows can serve as an alternative, energy efficient retrofit and help meet net zero energy, net zero carbon buildings. Their multiple environmental, economic, and social benefits include high energy efficiency, improved air quality, carbon capture, and renewable energy production. Energy efficient window retrofitting accounts for over 60% of the global window market share. In 2021, the global window market grew to $10 billion for replacement and renovation and $6 billion for new construction with a compound annual growth rate of 8.6% and 8.3% respectively. This energy efficient, carbon sink technology may result in 20~30% energy savings and carbon reductions. The good air quality further benefits occupant health and well-being, making the building more appealing to occupants, industry professionals, and stakeholders.The key technical innovation of the biochromic window is to integrate biological cells within a window assembly for commercial building retrofitting applications. As a primary building enclosure system mediating between indoor and outdoor environments, the biochromic window offers improved insulation, dynamic shading efficacy, daylight penetration, views to outside, carbon dioxide (CO2) biofixation, and biomass production, all of which are attributes of improved building energy efficiency, good indoor air quality, beneficial carbon sequestration, novel biofuel production, and user satisfaction. The primary project objectives are to: 1) prototype of a biochromic window, integrated with an intelligent control system to enable the maximum performance; 2) conduct performance testing and obtain performance certificates; and 3) scale-up mass production manufacturing and carry out technology demonstrations at early adopter’s buildings. Project outcomes seek to save building energy consumption in heating, cooling, and artificial lighting load while producing on-site renewable energy and sequestrating CO2. The biochromic windows, coupled with an intelligent control system, further enhance economic and environmental performance depending on solar intensity and carbon concentration. The view-out area within the biochromic window admits year round daylighting. Proximity to green nature is expected to provide aesthetic quality and emotional comfort for user satisfactions.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.