Phase change materials for climate-adaptive buildings: A review framed by tropical and Mediterranean climates
Ajitanshu Vedrtnam, Kishor Kalauni, Nelson Soares, Brian Salazar, Claudia P. Ostertag, Hayden Taylor
Abstract
Improving the energy performance of buildings is a global imperative. This review explores the role of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) as thermal energy storage components in buildings, using contrasting climate zones - tropical (Singapore) and Mediterranean (Portugal) - as a framework for climate-responsive analysis. The review synthesizes current knowledge across experimental investigations, numerical simulations, and modeling approaches, focusing on PCM classification, incorporation strategies, thermophysical performance, and building-level integration. It identifies key knowledge gaps in the literature, including limited treatment of climatic influences on PCM behavior, insufficient comparative insights across regions, and fragmented integration of modeling and experimental findings. By contextualizing PCM research within two distinct climate zones, this review offers practical insights into climate-sensitive design, material selection, and energy-saving strategies. It contributes a comprehensive perspective that bridges laboratory research and simulation studies with building application needs, supporting the development of energy-efficient and climate-adapted buildings. • PCM strategies reviewed using Singapore and Portugal as climate case frames • 178 studies synthesized across experimental, modeling, and applied domains • Paraffin suits cooling; dual-mode PCM needed for Mediterranean buildings • Modeling enhances PCM design for building energy and thermal performance • Review guides climate-adaptive PCM use in sustainable building envelopes