The Use of Smart Materials in Raising the Efficiency of the Performance of Buildings

ABSTRACT Recently, the architectural thought interested in high performance buildings to reduce the phenomenonof sick buildings, consuming all resources, depletion energy, and global warming.Hence, theresearchimportance of alternatives about traditional building materials that adverseeffecton the environmentand users, these alternatives raisesbuildings efficiencyin Egypt. The papersfollowthe methodology of theoretical, analytical and deductive through five chapters, the first oneincludesevaluation criteria formaterials and buildings in international organizations such as the (LEED, BREEAM…. etc.), discuss respondingfactors whichreducing energy consumption and embodied energy.The second chapter explained smart materialsconcept in past, present and future, bystudying the life cycle of materials and its development. The third chapter analyzed various types of these materials, such as (Thermo-Bimetal, Hemp Fiber, Mycelium, Bioluminescence), to clarify their conformity withstandard criteria mentionedin the first chapter, and their impact on reducing both types of energy and the amount of carbon dioxide. To carry out the objectives of this study, a questionnaire was designed to collect data in chapter four. The questionnaire showed the opinion of specialists in this field, Data has been analyzed using "Statistical package for social Science" (SPSS) software.Last chapter analyzed international and local case study, such as (The Gate, Enel Pavilion, The Technical Faculty, Decorative Facade Removes Air Pollution), this chapter also comparesamong thesecases in terms of materials and their impact in raising the efficiency of buildings.Results, finally this paperfocused on some materials, such as (Titanium Dioxide TiO2, Smart Bamboo, Hemp Fiber, Mycelium, Aerogels), as a “Second Skin”in building facades reducing (temperature, humidity in buildings, the dust and harmful emissions). The paper recommends that “H.P.B design process in Egypt required teamwork for any project includes several scientificdisciplines, also Egypt must constructspecial laboratory for producing high-efficiency materials, also being careful when dealing with nanotechnology, because the small molecules may seep to the skin of humans and kill.