Application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in the building sector is usually performed on the envelope scale, mainly for comparison of several sample-solutions, and provides in-depth analyses of the related energy and environmental performances. Doing so enable identification of the solutions that perform best in energy and environmental terms, and that are determined to be suitable for construction of sustainable buildings. In this context, the objective of this study is to perform a comparative energy and environmental assessments of three external-wall samples that were designed using different sophistication rates in terms of assembly technologies and component materials. The samples considered were properly designed as the initial step prior to the energy and environmental assessment. In particular, two ‘unconventional’ enveloping solutions providing the use of natural and recycled materials (durum wheat straw and recycled polyethylene terephthalate) in easy-disassembly and recyclable compositions with one conventional façade. Results show that the unconventional wall samples perform quite well in both energy and environmental terms, and can be considered as clean construction solutions that are valid candidates for the design of environmentally sustainable and low-energy demanding buildings. The straw-based solution is the one that performs best from an energy and environmental perspective. The choice of one or the other is, however, strictly depending upon the type of buildings that is designed, and the architectural and structural requirements it needs to fulfil. Finally, the authors believe that the study provides helpful insights on the environmental sustainability of eco-friendly materials and technologies, that can contribute to enhancing the specialised knowledge in the field and to supporting practitioners in similar LCA applications developed in the years following.
Durum Wheat Straw as Enveloping and Insulating Material in Buildings: Is It Sustainable? Findings from a Comparative Energy and Environmental Assessment of Alternative Solutions
Ingrao, Carlo
;
2021-01-01
Abstract
Application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in the building sector is usually performed on the envelope scale, mainly for comparison of several sample-solutions, and provides in-depth analyses of the related energy and environmental performances. Doing so enable identification of the solutions that perform best in energy and environmental terms, and that are determined to be suitable for construction of sustainable buildings. In this context, the objective of this study is to perform a comparative energy and environmental assessments of three external-wall samples that were designed using different sophistication rates in terms of assembly technologies and component materials. The samples considered were properly designed as the initial step prior to the energy and environmental assessment. In particular, two ‘unconventional’ enveloping solutions providing the use of natural and recycled materials (durum wheat straw and recycled polyethylene terephthalate) in easy-disassembly and recyclable compositions with one conventional façade. Results show that the unconventional wall samples perform quite well in both energy and environmental terms, and can be considered as clean construction solutions that are valid candidates for the design of environmentally sustainable and low-energy demanding buildings. The straw-based solution is the one that performs best from an energy and environmental perspective. The choice of one or the other is, however, strictly depending upon the type of buildings that is designed, and the architectural and structural requirements it needs to fulfil. Finally, the authors believe that the study provides helpful insights on the environmental sustainability of eco-friendly materials and technologies, that can contribute to enhancing the specialised knowledge in the field and to supporting practitioners in similar LCA applications developed in the years following.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
