COMPARACIÓN AMBIENTAL-ECONÓMICA DE MATERIALES DE AISLAMIENTO TÉRMICO PARA LA ENVOLVENTE DEL EDIFICIO A FIN DE REDUCIR LA DEMANDA ENERGÉTICA

Abstract

Thermal insulation materials play an important role in the challenge of nearly zero-energy buildings due to their potential in reducing building’s energy demand and carbon emissions. However, increasing the insulation material thickness in the building’s envelope has implications both from the energy, environmental and economic point of view. This study presents a comparison among different insulation material for the building’s envelope (roof, façade and floor) to achieve energy demand reductions during the operation phase of the building. To do so, the Life Cycle Assessment and the Life Cycle Costing methodologies are applied to eleven alternative insulation materials, both conventional and those emerging based on natural products, and six energy efficiency scenarios. As a case study, a detached single-family house located on the east coast of Spain has been selected. The results reveal that sheep wool and recycled cotton, jointly with the traditionally-used mineral and glass wool, are the most eco-efficient alternatives.