CLIMATE ACTION AND SDGS’ ATTAINMENT: INSULATION MATERIALS’ IMPACTS ASSESSMENT

Thermal insulation materials (TIM) lack of studies regarding their various impacts. Embodied energy and CO2 associated with materials and construction throughout the whole building lifecycle account for 11% of global CO2 emissions and the rest 28% are from buildings operation. This paper presents a study on impacts affecting conventional insulation materials (environmental, health, embodied energy and cost) in order to determine the best commonly used TIM. The objective focuses on examining the impacts of commonly used thermal insulation materials in order to define the best material with the least harmful impacts. The methodology depends on a qualitative approach that examines major impacts of conventional TIM. Results show the potential of the assessments in determining the best insulation materials and least effective to be utilized in buildings in terms of associated impacts. The results are limited to certain TIM; represented in five materials due to their importance and usage.