Production of Renewable Insulation Material – New Business Model of Bioeconomy for Clean Energy Transition

Ilze Luksta,Dagnija Blumberga,Gatis Bazbauers,Girts Bohvalovs,Andra Blumberga,Kriss Spalvins

doi:10.2478/rtuect-2021-0080

Ilze Luksta, Dagnija Blumberga + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2021-0080

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Abstract

Abstract Mycelium composites is a new class of renewable materials which can be used for heat insulation of buildings. Use of the composites would help to reduce both operational energy consumption and embodied energy of building insulation materials. In addition, use of the renewable composites could also reduce embodied greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the insulation materials. Local production and use of the composites could stimulate residential building insulation process via additional socio-economic benefits, such as positive impact on local economy, created workplaces and reduced import. The research question of this study is to determine a difference between embodied energy and GHG emissions of the mycelium insulation material and synthetic insulation alternatives. System dynamics model is used as the method for assessment of the dynamics of the total embodied energy and GHG emissions if equal amounts of the insulation materials is produced. Time horizon for the modeling is 2021–2050. Data used in the model were taken from scientific publications and laboratory experiments with growth process and properties of the mycelium composites. The model includes several feedback effects, e.g., effect of research and development on efficiency and productivity of the mycelium production process. The results show that embodied energy of the mycelium insulation material is higher than for the synthetic alternatives but the embodied GHG emissions are considerably lower than for the alternatives. The embodied GHG emissions are even lower if the absorption of CO2 of renewable materials used for the production of the mycelium composites is included.

Highlights

The construction industry has come under considerable pressure over the last decade as the supply of traditional building materials such as cement, brick, timber, cladding and partition materials has struggled to cope with increasing demand
The initial embodied emission value of the mycelium heat insulation material is 213 kgCO2eq/m3, and as research and development decrease the amount of electricity and heat required to produce 1 m3 of material the embodied emissions are reduced to 159 kgCO2eq/m3
Comparing the mycelium insulation with other synthetic materials in terms of embodied greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions shows that the mycelium insulation production is less emitting, mainly due to CO2 absorbtion by the materials involved in production

Summary

Introduction

The construction industry has come under considerable pressure over the last decade as the supply of traditional building materials such as cement, brick, timber, cladding and partition materials has struggled to cope with increasing demand. Production of these conventional building materials consumes energy, limited natural resources and pollutes air, land and water. Up to 36 % of the lifetime energy consumption of a typical dwelling can be attributed to harvesting or extraction of primary materials as well as other production processes, transport and construction of a building. Mycelium is the vegetative growth of filamentous fungi that bonds organic matter through a network of hyphal microfilaments in a natural biological process that can be exploited to produce composite materials [1]

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