Scholarly record
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF THERMAL INSULATION SOLUTIONS FOR BUILDINGS
Abstract
The thermal insulation of the building envelope is a very important factor for the total energy consumption of buildings. Considering the fact that more than 40% of the global energy use and the corresponding CO2 emissions comes from the building sector, the choice of good thermal insulation products can contribute to large energy savings. The choice of thermal insulation products should not be solely made based on installation and operational costs, but rather on the global environmental impact and energy demand during the entire life span of the product. Because of this, the application of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is necessary. The life cycle of a building thermal insulation includes: raw material extraction, manufacturing of raw materials, distribution of materials, packaging, use and maintenance, disposal and recycling. The thermal insulations are commonly made of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) or Mineral Wool (MW), and, to a less extent, of Polyurethane (PUR) or Agglomerate and Expanded Cork (ICB). Each material has its advantages and relative shortcomings. In this research, LCA is used to compare typical modern solutions of thermal insulation for buildings. A state of the art review of current thermal insulations for buildings is made. For several types of thermal insulations, a comparative assessment is made. Conclusions are drawn related to the global environmental impact of each insulation type.
Publication Impact Profile
Publication details
References11
Dimitris Anastaselos, Simos Oxizidis, Agis Papadopoulos, Energy, environmental and economic optimization of thermal insulation solutions by means of an integrated decision support system, Energy and Buildings 43, pp 686-694, 2011;
Fluvio Ardente, Marco Beccali, Mauritio Cellura, Marina Mistretta, Building energy performance: A LCA case study of kenaf-fibers insulation board, Energy and Buildings 40, pp 1-10, 2008;
Uniben Yao Ayikoe Tettey, Ambrose Dodoo, Leif Gustavsson, Effects of different insulation materials on primary energy and CO2 emission of a multi-storey residential building, Energy and Buildings 82, pp 369-377, 2014;
A.M. Papadopoulos, E. Giama, Environmental performance evaluation of thermal insulation materials and its impact on the building, Building and Environment 42, pp 2178-2187, 2007;
A.M. Papadopoulos, State of the art in thermal insulation materials and aims for future developments, Energy and Buildings 37, pp 77-86, 2004;
Mohammad S. Al-Homoud, Performance characteristics and practical applications of common building thermal insulation materials, Building and Environment 40, pp 353-366, 2004;
F.Barreca, C.R.Fichera, Thermal insulation performance assessment of agglomerated cork boards, Wood and Fiber Science 48(2), pp 1-8, 2015;
Nuno Pargana, Manuel Duarte Pinheiro, Jose Dinis Silvestre, Jorge de Brito, Comparative environmental life cycle assessment of thermal insulation materials of buildings, Energy and Buildings, pp 466-481, 2014;
Dimitris Anastaselos, Efrosini Giama, Agis M. Papadopoulos, An assessment tool for the energy, economic and environmental evaluation of thermal insulation solutions, Energy and Buildings, pp 1165-1171, 2009;
CEN, Sustainability of construction works – Assessment of environmental performance of buildings – Calculation method, EN 15978, Comite European de Normalization, Brusseles, Belgium, 2011;
CEN, Sustainability of construction works – Environmental Product Declarations – Core Rules for the Product Category of Construction Products, EN 15804, Comite European de Normalization, Brusseles, Belgium, 2012;
View or Download full articleAccess options
SWS access login
Login as SWS Scientific CommitteeLogin as SWS Scientific PartnerLogin as SWS AuthorAuthors and approved SWS contributors will read and export their own linked papers after identity matching by SWS profile, email and SGEM GlobalID.
For librarian assistance: [email protected]
Purchase Instant Access
- Article can be downloaded after successful payment.
- Article may be used according to SWS library access terms.
- Article cannot be redistributed.
