Experimental studies and simulation analysis were conducted to assess the hygrothermal performance of intelligent roof systems, which perform passive dehumidification in summer and solar heat collection in winter by air circulation through the roof ventilation layer to reduce sensible and latent heat load using solar heat. A high-efficiency air conditioning system separating latent and sensible heat can be developed using fibrous insulation with excellent moisture conditioning properties. The thermodynamic-potential-based fundamental principle of the intelligent skin system, which performs passive dehumidification and solar collection, was explained based on non-equivalent thermodynamics. The performance characteristics of temperature and humidity fluctuations of the intelligent roof were experimentally and numerically demonstrated. This work enables the combined analysis of heat and moisture movement in the envelope system. The experimental and numerical simulation results indicate that significant sensible and latent heat reduction can be achieved by running the system using renewable energy. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.