Controlling Temperature

Many office and residential high-rise buildings, both in Israel and abroad, feature glass facades. These glass envelopes give the buildings a sophisticated and elegant appearance while allowing natural light and panoramic views. However, the use of glass in building design—often without accounting for climatic context—can lead to significant challenges over time. Glass structures require high energy for interior cooling, particularly in hot climates, and can create a greenhouse effect within the building. The result is increased energy consumption and a larger carbon footprint.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), buildings account for 30% of the world's final energy consumption and 26% of global energy-related emissions. While energy standards, regulations, and renewable technologies have helped, the IEA stresses the need for faster progress to meet the United Nations' Net Zero Emissions (NZE) scenario.

Sky-Walls, a tech company addressing these exact challenges, has developed a module that integrates seamlessly with glass building facades to make them more sustainable and comfortable for occupants.

"Glass buildings present a unique challenge with conflicting requirements. On the one hand, glass facades provide transparency and allow sunlight to enter the building. On the other, they must prevent heat transfer through the glass, which can lead to the greenhouse effect and increased energy usage for air conditioning," explains Oren Aharon, founder, inventor, and CEO of Sky-Walls. Aharon holds a bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering and a master's in Industrial Management from the Technion. Among the 50 patents he has invented, the idea for this module emerged from recognizing that high-rise buildings are the largest energy consumers. His goal was to create an add-on for glass facades that balances functionality with aesthetics and dynamically adjusts the building envelope to external conditions and internal needs.

How does the technology achieve such energy efficiency?
"Our system uses state-of-the-art adaptive facade technologies that aim to make buildings sustainable. It manages heat transfer, minimizes the greenhouse effect, and enhances interior comfort, leading to potential energy savings of up to 30%. The AFM adapts to climate conditions and improves energy efficiency while supporting a comfortable indoor environment," explains Hilany Yelloz, a Systems Engineer and Manager at Sky-Walls.

Yelloz, who holds bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering with a specialization in Energy, Processes, and Environment from Nancy School of Mines and France Lorraine University, elaborates:
"Our innovative AFM is installed directly on the glass panels of the building's curtain wall. Using AI and integrated solar panels, it autonomously adapts to environmental conditions, conserving or dissipating heat as needed. This transforms curtain walls from passive systems into dynamic ones, automatically adjusting the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) and U-value to both external and internal conditions in real time. This operation eliminates the need for an external power source."

How does Sky-Walls' AFM work?
Aharon explains: "The glass envelope consists of two glass panels—an outer and an inner panel—with an air layer between them. This air layer insulates 1,000 times better than glass as long as it remains static. Insulation is most effective when the air is still; air circulation significantly reduces the thermal resistance. Our module circulates air within the sealed cavity when needed, altering the thermal properties of the curtain wall to match the building's needs."

Yelloz adds: "Thanks to the AI-powered system, anyone—whether a resident, employee, or visitor—can control the internal space's temperature. This control allows heat transfer either inward or outward, as needed, creating a more pleasant atmosphere and often reducing the need for air conditioning."

Seeking Partners
Following a successful $1M fundraising round, Sky-Walls is actively seeking new investors to support pilot programs and global expansion. Aharon shares that in 2021, the company received a grant of 500,000 NIS from the Ministry of Energy. He also personally invested 300,000 NIS to prove the concept over two years. After the initial funding round, the challenges of the war period added complexity to their progress, but the team managed to grow and hire more employees.

Hilany Yelloz became a pivotal part of the company during this time. "With her joining, Hilany brought significant momentum thanks to her expertise, motivation, and leadership. Together, we successfully raised an additional 3 million NIS through the Innovation Authority's new startup track, of which we were early adopters," Aharon reveals.

Yelloz explains, "This initiative combines the Innovation Authority's capabilities with private investors like Yoav Zilberstein, owner of Paz.A.I. Investments and Construction Ltd., who has become a key supporter."

During the war, Sky-Walls also gave back. In addition to donations to the frontlines and civilian support efforts, the company joined a Ministry of Defense initiative to help wounded soldiers reintegrate into the workforce. "We've already hired one soldier and plan to recruit more to support their recovery," says Yelloz.

Company details>>

Sky-Walls

• Established: December 2020
• Founder: Oren Aharon, inventor, entrepreneur, and company director
• Industry: Climate-tech: Autonomous facade systems (AFM) adapting to external and internal climate conditions
• Moto: "Building tomorrow: Smarter facades, Sustainable Cities."

In collaboration with Sky-Walls