The Role of Smart Technologies(Smart Envelopes and Materials) in Achieving Sustainability in buildings

Smart technologies play a significant role in achieving sustainability principles, particularly in the form aspect, which is one of the most affected areas in sustainable buildings. This is especially true when the form is integrated with smart technologies in external facades or smart materials. The use of smart envelopes in buildings contributes to improving thermal comfort by applying multi-target technologies to enhance the interaction between the building envelope and energy efficiency, thereby achieving sustainability.

This study focuses on the role of smart envelopes in maintaining building and environmental sustainability. Technology contributes to the development of smart envelopes with contemporary concepts while preserving identity. Studies have demonstrated proposals related to smart and interactive building envelopes, making the "smart facade" a central element in the development of the building’s form to ensure environmental control and internal comfort without negatively impacting the surrounding environment.

The research aims to improve the building envelope's response to changing environmental conditions using a smart envelope system that includes a range of technologies that enhance the building's thermal performance. This leads to energy savings and helps in the creation of sustainable, environmentally compatible buildings that can be integrated into planning and urban strategies for new sustainable cities.

The study employs an inductive approach that presents the concept of smart building envelopes, their objectives, and the influencing factors. It reviews previous studies and conducts an analytical study of global and regional experiences. It was essential to highlight ways to achieve sustainability in architectural and urban design to be a catalyst for influencing society towards urban and environmental development, as well as evaluating the possibility of applying it in Egypt within the framework of the 2030 sustainable vision.