Novel material proposal for shading devices in the context of bio-eco approach in architecture: experimental characterization and building-scale performance simulation

Today, sustainability-oriented production approaches necessitate the development of environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternatives to fossil-based materials. In this context, biodegradable bioplastics have gained attention due to their advantages such as biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and biodegradability; however, their applications as building materials are still limited. In this thesis, the potential use of bioplastic films, commonly studied in the packaging sector, as facade shading devices was investigated. Sodium alginate-based films were produced with the addition of nano zinc oxide as well as inorganic and photochromic pigments, and their structural, mechanical, optical, and thermal properties were analyzed through FT-IR, mechanical strength, light transmittance, and thermal conductivity tests. Subsequently, a shading device prototype was designed using these films, and the obtained material data and model were integrated into energy and daylight simulations in DesignBuilder software for comparative evaluation with different glazing types. Simulation results were optimized using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) and Pareto analysis methods based on energy and daylight performance criteria. The results revealed that bioplastic films can offer significant advantages in terms of daylight control and energy performance, and that they have the potential to serve as environmentally and economically viable alternatives to conventional systems.