Environmental and spatial assessment for the ecodesign of a cladding system with embedded Phase Change Materials

Abstract

New building materials and techniques are increasingly developed to respond to the challenges posed by the need of reducing energy demand of buildings while keeping adequate answer to housing needs. The potential of Cement Based Composites (CBCs) panels in which a large amount Phase Change Materials (PCMs) is embedded have been explored in this study. The technological development of the CBCs panel, and the optimization thereof, have been supported by a tailored methodology, combining environmental, spatial and climate-based assessment. Concerning the environmental assessment, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), at material and component level, has been applied through all the steps of the panel design process to ensure that the use of the innovative product leads to an absolute reduction of the environmental impacts. The assessment of product environmental profile along life cycle stages have been performed covering 15 different impact categories. Based on LCA results, glycerine and fatty acids – if they are secondary material (e.g. from the purification of waste cooking oil) – showed a great potential to be environmentally preferable compared to paraffin. Moreover, the spatial and climate-based assessment has been carried out, considering the climatic conditions of the first 50 most populated cities in the European Union. It allowed identifying the EU cities with the highest potential for PCMs application and the optimal configuration of the CBC panel (single or dual layer). Lastly, when compared to sandwich panels available in the market, environmental benefits are expected from the use of PCMs when the insulating layer can be reduced by 25% without affecting the thermal performance.