InDeWaG · Project

Glass Facades That Heat and Cool Buildings While Cutting Construction Costs by 15%

constructionPilotedTRL 7

Imagine if the glass walls of an office building could double as both the heating and cooling system — water flowing inside the glass panels absorbs heat from the sun and moves it where it's needed, or dumps it when it's not. That's exactly what InDeWaG built: fluid-flow glazing facades and radiant interior walls that replace most of the bulky HVAC equipment you'd normally need. The result is a nearly zero-energy building with floor-to-ceiling windows that actually costs less to build than a conventional one. They also created a simulation tool so architects can plan these buildings accurately from day one.

By the numbers

15%

Minimum building cost reduction potential for Zero Energy Buildings

Consortium partners across industry, research, and academia

64%

Industry partners in the consortium

Total project deliverables produced

Climate zones tested (countries: Germany, Spain, Bulgaria)

The business problem

What needed solving

European building developers face a regulatory wall: all new buildings must be Nearly Zero Energy by EU directive, yet clients demand glass-heavy, daylight-filled designs. Current solutions pile on expensive HVAC systems and photovoltaic panels to compensate for heat loss through glass facades, driving costs up and making ZEB compliance with transparent buildings financially painful. There is no mainstream building envelope system that combines maximum glass coverage with zero-energy performance at a competitive price.

The solution

What was built

The project developed industrialized fluid-flow glazing (water and air flow through glass panels) and Radiant Interior Walls as standardized building components for mass production. They also built a validated simulation software tool for early-stage planning of ZEB buildings using these components, tested across multiple climate zones with real experimental performance data across 46 deliverables.

Audience

Who needs this

Commercial property developers building glass-facade office towers under NZEB requirementsCurtain wall and facade system manufacturers seeking next-generation glazing productsHVAC engineering firms designing systems for zero-energy commercial buildingsArchitectural firms specializing in sustainable commercial and institutional buildingsBuilding-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) companies looking for complementary facade technology

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Commercial Real Estate Development

enterprise

Target: Property developers building office towers, retail centers, or mixed-use complexes

If you are a commercial developer struggling with the EU's Nearly Zero Energy Building mandate while clients demand maximum daylight and glass facades — this project developed fluid-flow glazing systems that achieve ZEB performance through transparent facades, with at least 15% building cost reduction compared to conventional ZEB approaches. The standardized components work across hot and cold climates, so a single product line covers your Southern and Northern European projects.

Facade Engineering and Glass Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Curtain wall manufacturers and facade system suppliers

If you are a facade manufacturer looking for a next-generation product line that goes beyond passive glazing — this project industrialized fluid-flow glazing (water and air) into standardized building components ready for mass production. The system was tested across 3 climate zones with real performance data across 46 deliverables. Licensing or co-developing this technology positions you ahead of competitors still selling static glass.

HVAC and Building Services

any

Target: Mechanical engineering firms designing heating, cooling, and ventilation systems

If you are an HVAC engineering firm facing pressure to minimize equipment size while meeting zero-energy targets — this project developed Radiant Interior Walls and fluid-flow glazing that handle a major share of the heating and cooling load through the building envelope itself. The project includes a validated simulation tool for early-stage planning, letting you size systems accurately and avoid costly over-engineering.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much can this actually save on building costs?

The project objective states at least 15% building cost reduction potential for Zero Energy Buildings compared to conventional approaches. This saving comes from minimizing the size of HVAC and photovoltaic installations, since the facade itself handles much of the energy management.

Can this work at industrial scale or is it still a lab concept?

InDeWaG was specifically an Innovation Action focused on industrial production of standardized building components. The consortium included 7 industry partners (64% of the 11-partner group) working to bring fluid-flow glazing to industrial ripeness. Deliverables include full building simulations validated with real experimental performance data.

What about intellectual property and licensing?

The technology was developed by a consortium of 11 partners across Germany, Spain, and Bulgaria, coordinated by Universitat Bayreuth. IP is likely shared among consortium members. Interested companies should contact the coordinator to discuss licensing terms or partnership opportunities.

Does this work in different climates or only specific regions?

The project explicitly tested performance across both hot and cold climates, different building sizes, and different orientations. Deliverables confirm case studies were run for multiple climate variants, making the system applicable across European climate zones.

Is the simulation tool available for architects and engineers?

The project developed a software tool for early planning stage of buildings containing fluid-flow glazing. Based on deliverable data, this tool was tested for full building simulation and case studies across cold and hot climates in three different types of buildings. Availability should be confirmed with the project coordinator.

Does this comply with the EU Nearly Zero Energy Building directive?

Yes — the entire project was designed around achieving ZEB performance through transparent glass facades. The EU NZEB requirement for new buildings was the core market driver. The system combines fluid-flow glazing, radiant interior walls, and building-integrated photovoltaics to reach zero-energy targets.

How long did development take and what stage is it at?

The project ran from August 2015 to February 2020, producing 46 deliverables over 4.5 years. As an Innovation Action with heavy industry participation (64% industry ratio, 4 SMEs), it moved beyond research into industrial-grade component development and validated simulation tools.

Consortium

Who built it

The InDeWaG consortium of 11 partners is heavily tilted toward industry at 64%, with 7 industrial players, 4 of them SMEs — a strong signal that this was built for commercial deployment, not academic publishing. The three-country spread (Germany, Spain, Bulgaria) conveniently covers cold, hot, and mixed European climates, which means the technology was tested under real-world conditions relevant to most of the EU market. Universitat Bayreuth coordinated, bringing German engineering rigor, while the Spanish and Bulgarian partners ensured the system works beyond northern Europe. With only 2 universities and 2 research organizations supporting 7 industry partners, the balance favors getting products to market rather than generating papers.

UNIVERSITAT BAYREUTHCoordinator · DE
CENTRAL LABORATORY OF SOLAR ENERGY& NEW ENERGY SOURCES OF THE BULGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCESparticipant · BG
UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRIDparticipant · ES

How to reach the team

Universitat Bayreuth (Germany) — reach out through their technology transfer office or faculty of engineering for licensing and partnership inquiries

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSITAT BAYREUTH profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the InDeWaG team? SciTransfer can connect you with the right person and prepare a tailored brief for your specific use case.

Order a report on this topic More in construction