Phase change materials (PCMs) used in buildings: A critical review

The construction sector deserves special attention due to its energy efficiency potential, high energy consumption, and environmental impact.Indeed, reducing energy consumption in buildings means reducing the carbon footprint and mitigating climate change.Phase change materials (PCMs) have garnered significant attention in recent years because to their potential to enhance comfort and mitigate environmental impact by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.Between 2013 and 2023, research in this area experienced a substantial increase of 231.45%.This considerable rise reflects the technology›s notable advancements and growing interest among researchers.This article provides a comprehensive assessment of recent scientific studies investigating the effects of PCMs integrated into building envelopes to reduce heating and cooling energy consumption.The main characteristics and properties of PCMs, selection criteria, and integration methods are reviewed and discussed, then the main numerical tools as well as a method for determining the main thermo-physical properties of PCMs based on the results of previous studies are presented.Thus, all the recent research carried out locally (Morocco) was described, and finally, a thorough assessment was conducted to identify deficiencies and offer suggestions for future research.