Smart Materials and nanotechnology for energy retrofit of historic buildings

As energy-efficiency standards for buildings become increasingly stringent, using a traditional insulation material often means having to accept increasingly thick layers of insulation in walls, floors, and roofs. In renovation projects, even if it is possible to increase insulation thickness at all, significant aesthetic and functional compromises are often required to fit more insulation on the inside or outside of the building envelope. The article offers an analysis of the use of nanotechnological insulation materials and innovative phase change materials (PCM) in renovation of buildings, illustrating the possibility of integration into the envelope and the benefits achievable in terms of architectural quality, comfort and energy saving, with particular reference to the historic buildings subjected to architectural constraints.