In order to commercialize an energy-saving building material that has been developed, it is important to evaluate its energy-saving performance, ease of use, and durability in an environment where it is to be used. The Materials Research Institute for Sustainable Development has built a facility called the Environmentally Harmonious Building Material Testing Laboratory at AIST Chubu. At the laboratory and its surrounding test field, we are conducting demonstrations of energy-saving building materials, mainly those being developed by us, including window materials such as a swichable mirror, exterior materials such as solar heat absorption control exterior tiles and water-retaining blocks, and interior materials such as moisture-control materials. Insolation, spectral solar radiation (direct solar radiation, global solar radiation), wind direction and speed, temperature, humidity, and precipitation are continuously measured on the rooftop of the steel-framed, three-story laboratory building. Two identical rooms or structures under the same conditions are prepared for the demonstration of a building material under development. The energy-saving performance was evaluated based on comparison measurements made with and without the use of the material to compare changes in the indoor and outdoor thermal environments and the power consumption of air conditioning to maintain room temperature. Durability of the material is also tested. Demonstrations can provide data and knowledge that cannot be obtained from conventional simulations based on the evaluated material properties using specimens, and can contribute to better simulation in the area of building technology.

We will also evaluate the energy-saving performance of commercial building materials in collaborative research as long as testing space is available.