Eco smart panels for energy savings

Abstract

An eco-smart panel is described comprising a solar thermal panel, a phase change material, a metal foil layer, and a structural frame constructed of materials including wood studs, gypsum, or fiberglass-reinforced concrete. The materials may be variously configured to create modular systems for fabricating buildings or structures. Eco-smart panels may be utilized to create buildings or structure with enhanced energy efficiency, increased fire resistance, increased flood resistance, and decreased construction cost and time.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of constructing a modular fabricated panel, the method comprising:
 (a) providing:
 (i) a solar thermal panel; 
 (ii) a phase change material; and 
 (iii) and a structural material; 
   (b) coupling the solar thermal panel to the structural material; and   (c) coupling the phase change material to the solar thermal panel, to construct the modular fabricated panel.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the structural material comprises at least one void space. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises, in (b), inserting the solar thermal panel into at least one void space. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises, in (c), inserting the phase change material into the at least one void space. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises providing a metal foil layer, to construct the modular fabricated panel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises coupling the metal foil layer to the solar thermal panel. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises coupling the metal foil layer to the structural material. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises providing one or more members selected from the group consisting of insulating material, vapor barrier material, oriented strand board, and electromagnetic shielding material, to construct the modular fabricated panel. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises providing a sensor capable of collecting environmental data, to construct the modular fabricated panel. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an air flow sensor, a pressure sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, an acoustic sensor, or a vibration sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the structural material comprises one or more studs of a nominal size selected from the group consisting of 1×2, 1×3, 1×4, 1×6, 1×8, 1×10, 1×12, 2×2, 2×3, 2×4, 2×6, 2×8, 2×10, 2×12, 4×4, 4×6, and 4×8. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein (b) comprises coupling the solar thermal panel to a first side of the modular fabricated panel, and wherein the method further comprises coupling an additional solar thermal panel to a second side of the modular fabricated panel, wherein the second side is substantially opposite from the first side. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein, in (b), the solar thermal panel is coupled to the structural material by one or more intermediate layers. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the modular fabricated panel is constructed such that the modular fabricated panel comprises a void space. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the void space is for receiving a plumbing component, an electrical component, or a telecommunications component. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the void space is for receiving an insulating material, a shielding material, or a barrier material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 2 , further incorporating the modular fabricated panel to a structure, to reduce energy consumption of the structure. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the modular fabricated panel forms an exterior wall of the structure, an interior wall of the structure, or a ceiling of the structure. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the incorporation of the modular fabricated panel into the structure reduces a total energy consumption of the structure by at least about 10% as compared to another structure that is built without using the modular fabricated panel. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the modular fabricated panel has an insulating R-value of at least about R-10.