Use of thermal energy storage for sustainable buildings

Thermal energy storage (TES) systems are examined from the perspectives of energy, exergy, environmental impact, sustainability and economics, with a focus on how they can help make buildings more sustainable. Reductions in energy use and environmental emissions through TES are discussed in detail and highlighted with a case study. The case study demonstrates that TES exergy efficiencies normally are lower than energy efficiencies due to exergy destructions and losses. The importance of using exergy analysis to obtain more realistic and meaningful assessments than are obtained with energy analysis of the efficiency and performance of TES systems is demonstrated. The results indicate that TES can play a significant role in achieving more efficient, environmentally benign, sustainable and economic energy use in buildings, and appears to be an appropriate technology for addressing the mismatches that often occur between times of energy supply and demand.