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Assessing the Environmental Impact of Biobased Exterior Insulation Panel: A Focus on Carbon Uptake and Embodied Emissions

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  • Md Sahadat Hossain

    (Department of Sustainable Resources Management, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA)

  • Obste Therasme

    (Department of Sustainable Resources Management, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA)

  • Paul Crovella

    (Department of Sustainable Resources Management, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA)

  • Timothy A. Volk

    (Department of Sustainable Resources Management, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA)

Abstract

There are millions of older buildings in the colder climate regions of the world where envelope upgrades are needed to improve the indoor quality of buildings, reduce energy costs, and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study assessed the global warming potential (GWP) with and without accounting for CO 2 uptake in trees (biogenic carbon) for 20- and 100-year timespans of an exterior insulation panel. The panels consisted of six different materials with three-ply cross-laminated timber (CLT) as its main component. The net GWP 100-Uptake impact when explicitly accounting for biogenic CO 2 uptake over a 100-year time period was 7.2 kgCO 2 -eq/m 2 which was 92.7% lower than if it was not included (GWP 100-Fossil of 98.7 kgCO 2 -eq/m 2 ). Using a 20-year GWP increased the impact of the GWP fossil by 21.7% and the CO 2 uptake scenario by 298%. The major contributor was the energy used for manufacturing panel’s materials (53%), with embodied carbon in bio-products primarily responsible for offsetting emissions. The findings will be helpful for policymakers in setting net-zero carbon emission goals for embodied and operational impacts of building materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Md Sahadat Hossain & Obste Therasme & Paul Crovella & Timothy A. Volk, 2024. "Assessing the Environmental Impact of Biobased Exterior Insulation Panel: A Focus on Carbon Uptake and Embodied Emissions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-23, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:14:p:3406-:d:1433018
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Torres-Rivas, Alba & Palumbo, Mariana & Haddad, Assed & Cabeza, Luisa F. & Jiménez, Laureano & Boer, Dieter, 2018. "Multi-objective optimisation of bio-based thermal insulation materials in building envelopes considering condensation risk," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 602-614.
    2. Röck, Martin & Saade, Marcella Ruschi Mendes & Balouktsi, Maria & Rasmussen, Freja Nygaard & Birgisdottir, Harpa & Frischknecht, Rolf & Habert, Guillaume & Lützkendorf, Thomas & Passer, Alexander, 2020. "Embodied GHG emissions of buildings – The hidden challenge for effective climate change mitigation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    3. Simon Pescari & Mircea Merea & Alexandru Pitroacă & Clara-Beatrice Vilceanu, 2022. "A Particular Case of Urban Sustainability: Comparison Study of the Efficiency of Multiple Thermal Insulations for Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-13, December.
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