Active Facades: Scaling Energy Efficiency and Climate-Positive Carbon Neutrality from Every Surface

Abstract

As fossil fuel reliance grows increasingly unsustainable, large-scale renewable energy capture is vital to achieving carbon neutrality. Due to spatial constraints, traditional on-site renewables like rooftop solar panels and wind turbines often fail to meet the high energy demands of large buildings. In this context, Micro Wind Energy Harvesters (MWEHs) offer a promising, scalable, and low-maintenance alternative for energy generation, capturing and converting ambient wind and vibration into electricity. While individual MWEHs produce modest amounts of renewable energy, their impact becomes significant when employed across large areas, such as building facades. Recent interest in MWEHs has grown as researchers explore alternatives to conventional renewable energy technologies. This article focuses on designing, fabricating, and optimising MWEHs tailored for architectural integration. The aim is to refine device geometry, material efficiency, and aerodynamic performance to maximise energy output in low-wind conditions typical of urban microclimates. As part of this initiative, a full-scale installation of a self-powered digital display is proposed to serve as a demonstration model of how future active facades could generate renewable energy, extending from individual building surfaces to entire districts or neighbourhoods in a "surface-to-city" concept, integrating into new and existing construction. This display—energised solely by MWEHs—will act as both a proof of concept and an interactive public demonstration. Beyond validating system feasibility, it will also raise awareness, spark dialogue around renewable technologies, and inspire broader adoption by showing how buildings can become active agents of energy production.