Thermal Performance of Natural Insulation Materials for Energy Efficient Buildings

Abstract

Natural materials are renewable, sustainable, have less environmental impact and have lower embodied energy. Materials like rock wool, and expanded and extruded polystyrene are of non-renewable nature, have a greater environmental impact and high embodied energy. Natural insulation materials have less effect on the environment as compared to materials like rock wool, and expanded and extruded polystyrene. The mean thermal conductivity of natural materials like wood fiber is almost same and that of insulation materials like wood waste, kenaf insulation board and coconut husk insulation board is comparable with that of materials like rock wool, and expanded and extruded polystyrene. The other natural derived materials like oriented strand board, particleboard, plywood, hardboard and solid wood have a mean thermal conductivity slightly higher than materials like rock wool, and expanded and extruded polystyrene.