Evaluating the use of polymers in residential buildings: Case study of a single storey detached house in New Zealand
| Autor: | Nigel Isaacs, Brenda Vale, Milad Moradibistouni |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
chemistry.chemical_classification
Life span 0211 other engineering and technologies 02 engineering and technology Building and Construction Polymer Civil engineering Energy analysis chemistry Mechanics of Materials 021105 building & construction Architecture Single-family detached home Electrical wiring Environmental science 021108 energy Safety Risk Reliability and Quality Embodied energy Building industry Civil and Structural Engineering Efficient energy use |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Building Engineering. 32:101517 |
| ISSN: | 2352-7102 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jobe.2020.101517 |
| Popis: | Residential buildings consume a large share of world energy with comparable CO2 emissions. This article has undertaken a comparative Life Cycle Energy Analysis (LCEA) using a new approach. This involved classifying the LCEA outputs of a case study house as material groups to see the contribution made by polymers used in the building industry, most of which currently depend on oil for their production. The article discusses how some polymers, such as the thermoset polymer polyurethane foam (PUR) insulation material, can be replaced with materials with lower embodied energy and CO2 coefficients, leading to a lower overall energy use over the life of the residential building. However, there are some types of polymer, such as the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used for insulating electrical wiring that cannot be replaced easily. The article also discusses the importance of considering the source of energy for both manufacturing materials and for operating the house during its life span. The results show over 50% of the life cycle energy and close to 90% of the life cycle CO2 emissions of the case study house come from polymers, mostly in the form of the insulating materials used for improving the energy efficiency of the house. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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