Primary energy and CO2 emissions implications of different insulation, cladding and frame materials for residential buildings

SBE 19 - Emerging Concepts for Sustainable Built Environment

生态环境科学

Ayikoe Tettey, Uniben Yao^1 ; Gustavsson, Leif^1

Sustainable Built Environment Research Group, Linnaeus University, Vaxjö

SE-35195, Sweden^1

关键词: Carbon dioxide emissions;    Cellulose insulation;    Concrete alternative;    Expanded polystyrene;    Low energy buildings;    Material combination;    Residential building;    Thermal Performance;   

Others  :  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/297/1/012020/pdf
DOI  :  10.1088/1755-1315/297/1/012020

学科分类：环境科学（综合）

来源: IOP

【 摘 要 】

In this study, we analyse and compare the primary energy use and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with different insulation, cladding and frame materials for a constructed concrete frame multi-storey residential building in Sweden. Our approach consists of identifying individual materials giving the lowest primary energy use and CO2 emissions for each building envelope part and based on that, modelling different material combinations to achieve improved alternatives of the concrete frame building with the same operation energy use based on the Swedish building code or passive house criteria. We analyse the complete materials and energy chains, including material losses as well as conversion and fuel cycle losses. The analysis covers the primary energy use to extract, process, transport, and assemble the materials and the resulting CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. The results show wide variations in primary energy and CO2 emissions depending on the choice of building envelope materials. The materials for external walls contribute most to the primary energy and CO2 emissions, followed by foundation, roof and external cladding materials. The improved building alternatives with wood construction frames, wood external cladding, expanded polystyrene as foundation insulation and cellulose insulation in the external walls and roof result in about 36 - 40% lower production primary energy use and 42 - 49% lower CO2 emissions than the improved concrete alternative when achieving the same thermal performance. This study suggests that strategies for low-energy buildings should be combined with resource-efficient and low carbon materials in the production phase to mitigate climate change and achieve a sustainable built environment.