Impact of air barriers application in LCA and LCC of naturally ventilated dwellings in mild climate regions

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2023

Authors

Vitor E. M. Cardoso (Author) Other; Maria de Lurdes Simões (Author) FEUP; Nuno Ramos (Author) FEUP; Ricardo M. S. F. Almeida (Author) Other; Manuela Almeida (Author) Other; Ricardo Mateus (Author) Other

Journal

The Journal is awaiting validation by the Administrative Services.

Title: ENERGY AND BUILDINGS

Vol. 279

ISSN: 0378-7788

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00X-FX2

DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2022.112667

Abstract (EN): Assessing singular elements that constitute the air barrier of a building envelope is quite unfeasible in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The study of these solutions through this particular scope is often overlooked. Two major aspects contribute to it: the complexity of the relationships between elements and the reduced embodied impact of these materials in the overall construction or retrofitting works. This work uses LCA and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) to study the viability of applying two envelope air barrier solutions in dwellings with excessive air change rates and equipped with different heating systems. The application of air barrier solutions resulted in average energy consumption savings in urban terrain, almost half of those in rural terrain during the heating season. Environmental performance and life cycle costs revealed mechanically (MECH) fastened air barriers to outperform fluid (FLUID) applied ones. The median annualized cost of adopting a FLUID solution was almost four times that of a MECH solution. Dwellings equipped with electric radiators ranked first in the shortest average Energy Payback Period (EPP) and the highest average Reference Service Life (RSL) savings. With the current analysis, the adoption of MECH solutions is recommended, independently of the heating system the dwelling is equipped with. (c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11