Responsive Building Elements (RBEs) are technologies for the exploiting at the building scale renewable energy sources and the opportunities offered by the environment. Among the RBE concepts identified by the IEA-ECBCS Annex 44, Advanced Integrated Façades (AIFs) is probably one of the most promising technologies. Important players in the field of the façade have started to develop integrated modular façade systems (Multifunctional Façade Modules - MFMs), with a dynamic behaviour and interacting with the other building services, in order to reduce the building energy consumption and maximize the indoor comfort conditions. In the frame of a research activity aimed at the development of solar and active building skin, a MFM has been conceived and a prototype realized for experimental evaluation. The work presented in this paper illustrates the first results of the experimental campaign on the RBE-MFM called ACTRESS (ACTive, RESponsive and Solar). The ACTRESS façade module is being tested by means of a Test Cell apparatus. The main physical quantities (e.g. heat fluxes, temperatures, transmitted irradiances, PV power, air flows, etc.) are continuously measured by means of more than 70 sensors placed on the mock-up. A detailed picture of the monitoring system is given with the description of the measurement procedures. Preliminary results concerning the behaviour of the system during summer and mid season are illustrated and discussed.

Responsive Building Elements (RBEs) and energy storage within the building are considered as a crucial development towards the nearly Zero Energy/Emission Building target. The exploitation at the building scale of renewable energy sources and the opportunities offered by the environment is achieved by the ability of the RBEs to dynamically adapt to changing environmental conditions. Among these concepts, Advanced Integrated Façades (AIFs) are probably one the most promising technologies, due to the important role that the building envelope plays in controlling the energy and mass flows between the building and the outdoor environment. In the framework of a decade-long research activity on AIFs, a new Multifunctional Façade Module (MFM) has been conceived and a prototype realized for the experimental assessment of its performance. The work herewith presented illustrates the results of the experimental campaign on the RBE-MFM called ACTRESS (ACTive, RESponsive and Solar)