Effects of different insulation materials on primary energy and CO2 emission of a multi-storey residential building

• In this study, we analyzed the implications of various insulation materials on the primary energy and CO2emission for material production of a residential building. We modeled changes to the original design ofthe building to achieve reference buildings to energy-efficiency levels of the Swedish building code of2012 or the Swedish Passivhus 2012 criteria. We varied the insulation materials in different parts of thereference buildings from mineral rock wool to glass wool, cellulose fiber, expanded polystyrene or foamglass. We compared the primary energy use and CO2emission from material production of functionallyequivalent reference and optimum versions of the building. The results showed a reduction of about 6–7%in primary energy use and 6–8% in CO2emission when the insulation material in the reference buildingsis changed from rock wool to cellulose fiber in the optimum versions. Also, the total fossil fuel use for onlyinsulation material production was reduced by about 39%. This study suggests that enhancing materialproduction technologies by reducing fossil fuel-use and increasing renewable energy sources, as wellas careful material choice with renewable-based raw materials can contribute significantly in reducingprimary energy use and GHG emission in the building sector.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Husbyggnad (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Building Technologies (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Insulation material; Primary energy; CO2 emission; Energy-efficiency; Fossil fuel; Residential building

Byggteknik

Civil engineering

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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