Thermal Insulation Efficiency Research Articles

Energy efficiency of ecological buildings in Tunisia: Natural fiber composites and passive strategies impact

Improving the thermal insulation and energy efficiency of building envelopes is a major objective worldwide and has significantly developed in the recent years. This study aims to evaluate the impact of ecological additive and passive strategies on building energy efficiency. An experimental study was carried out to examine the effect of the incorporation of treated Alfa and Posidonia-Oceanica fibers on the thermal properties of cement and gypsum composite samples. The experimental results were then introduced in a numerical study using TRNSYS software to perform a comparison of the energy efficiency and thermal performance of three individual buildings; two ones constructed with our ecological materials and the third one with typical materials is considered as a reference case under the Tunisian climate. The obtained results indicate that the buildings built with Alfa fibers (BAF) and Posidonia-Oceanica fibers (BPOF) are economically effective since they allow a decrease of about 48.20% and 43.48% in heating, 45.71% and 42.77% in cooling, leading to a reduction in CO2 emission of 47.90% and 43.40%, respectively, in comparison with the reference case. The investigation also focuses on the improvement of the ecological building envelope by a storage wall integrated on the south front and shaded by solar movable overhangs during the summer season. The indoor climate results reveal that incorporating passive strategies into the building improves indoor air temperature and preserves a comfortable indoor relative humidity. Heating requirements decrease by 82.82% for BAF and by 79.76% for BPOF. The cooling requirements of the reference building are also reduced by 63.46% for BAF and 60.45% for BPOF by the use of natural night ventilation (4 ACH) and the appropriate shading for Trombe walls and windows. Consequently, the implementation of passive strategies on the ecological buildings led to a net reduction in CO2 emissions by up to 80.55% for BAF, compared to the reference case.

Development of Lightweight Sawdust-Based Composite Panels for Building Purposes

This research dealt with fabrication of suitable lightweight composite panel samples from sawdust for building applications. Raw and alkali-treated sawdust particles were utilized at varying weight proportions (0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 100 %) to develop the samples with topbond as binder. From the results of heat transfer and strength properties tests, the raw sawdust improved thermal insulation efficiency while the treated sawdust enhanced the strength of the samples. For each loading level of sawdust, 100% screwability and nailability were achieved. The findings suggest that, if used as ceiling panels in buildings, the samples would outperform conventional ceilings like plywood, asbestos, plaster of Paris, and KalsiCeil in mitigating global warming effects, reducing dead loads, and promoting sustainable and cost-effective housing development. This underscores the potential of these samples to address key priorities in construction and environmental sustainability.

Excellent interfacial compatibility of phase change capsules/polyurethane foam with enhanced mechanical and thermal insulation properties for thermal energy storage

The incorporation of phase change microcapsule (microPCMs) substantially augmented the temperature regulation capacity of foams, endowing it with outstanding application potential in numerous industrial domains. However, interfacial compatibility issues between the capsule and the substrate always exist and affect foam performance. In this study, a milli-meter macrocapsule (macroPCMs) containing microPCMs was prepared using calcium alginate gel as the second layer wall to physically improve the interfacial compatibility. And poly (N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) was in situ polymerized in the gel layer and provided active alcohol hydroxyl groups to form chemical grafting with the polyurethane raw materials, which further chemically improved the interfacial compatibility. These measures created a significantly improved foam microstructure and a greatly increased foaming capacity, which thus endow the composite foam with excellent thermal insulation performance and mechanical strength. Compared with conventional microPCMs-based foam, the foaming capacity of the macroPCMs-based foam increased by 40 folds, the temperature regulation duration increased by 7 folds, and the mechanical performance increased by 3 folds. Moreover, the insulated incubator fabricated with the macroPCMs-based foam exhibited two-fold greater thermal insulation efficiency than conventional models containing internal ice incubator, which validated the potential of employing macroPCMs-based polyurethane foam in cold chain logistics applications.

A computational approach to heat transfer and ablation in space capsule insulation

In this article, the heat transfers and ablation phenomena of thermal insulations utilized in manned space capsules are investigated. In this regard, by collecting and solving the equations related to ablation insulations, a computer program has been developed that is able to predict the thermal response of these insulations under various operating conditions. This approach considers mass and heat transfer equations in two-dimensional solid bodies. To solve these equations, finite volume method and implicit formulation for time dependence have been used. The reaction equation, written in the form of Arrhenius, is solved using the Runge-Kutta method, and the density and the flux of the gas produced at each step are obtained. Furthermore, a practical model with low computational requirements and execution time and execution time is presented to consider the regression rate based on determining the identifier for destroyed cells, charred cells, and virgin material. The research results demonstrate that increasing the thickness of the layers, the heat of decomposition and ablation, the intensity of the reaction, and reducing the thermal diffusion coefficient, density of char, and temperature of ablation enhance the efficiency of thermal insulation. Validation of the model with experimental results in silica-phenolic insulation reveals a good agreement between simulation and experimental observations. Additionally, it was shown that for a carbon-phenolic insulation with a thickness of 5 mm in the specified space capsule under the given conditions, the maximum recession rate is 1.9 mm at a maximum temperature of 1000 K and 4.9 mm at a maximum temperature of 1300 K.

Thermal insulation and durability of alkali-activated lightweight slag mortar modified with silica fume and fly ash

Green building indices prioritize energy efficiency, which in turn promotes sustainable development. One of the most energy-consuming sectors globally is the building sector. Developing green insulating materials based on byproducts has environmental benefits and profits in reducing energy consumption in the building sector and other sectors. This study aimed to develop thermal insulating materials based on byproducts for binders and expanded perlite (EP) for fine aggregate cured at room temperature. Alkali-activated lightweight slag mortars with/without foaming agent were prepared. To increase the efficiency of the thermal insulation, the slag was partially replaced with a fixed ratio of silica fume (SF) (15%) and different ratios of fly ash (FA) (15%, 40% and 65%). After room temperature curing, the bulk density, mechanical strength, accelerated aging resistance, water absorption, total porosity and thermal conductivity were measured. The selected samples were examined using sophisticated tools. The results showed that the selected byproducts can be efficiently employed as insulation materials, of which the obtained results of thermal conductivity, bulk density, total porosity, water absorption, compressive strength and flexural strength were in the range of 0.172–0.082 W/mK, 1191.6–450 kg/m3, 33.2–48.7%, 28–45.1%, 12.48–1.5 MPa and 3.43–0.46 MPa, respectively. All the studied specimens exhibited strength reduction after accelerating aging, but the reduction rate was mitigated by increasing the FA content. Increasing FA content has a benefit in increasing the efficiency of thermal insulation.

Tensile behaviors of nanoporous phenolic composites reinforced by 3D needle-punched preforms with different weave patterns

Needle-punched preform reinforced nanoporous phenolic composite (NPC) is a cost-effective lightweight ablative material for thermal protection systems. It consists of a needle-punched preform composed of alternating stacked fiber felt and stacked woven fabric, which plays a crucial role in the thermal insulation efficiency and mechanical properties. Herein, needle-punched preforms with different types of fabrics, including plain, twill, and satin, are deliberately designed for the reinforcement of NPC, and their tensile properties and fracture mechanism are investigated through experimentation and the CT image-based finite element method. At the same preform density, the composite with plain fabric exhibits the highest tensile strength of 146 ± 6.3 MPa, a tensile modulus of 8.2 ± 0.2 GPa, and an elongation of 2.1 ± 0.1%, due to having the highest number of crossover points and the largest undulation of fiber yarns. Furthermore, the CT image-based simulation reveals the failure mechanism of NPC. The von mises stress of woven fabric is higher than that of fiber felt, which demonstrates the woven fabric is the main load-bearing structure and determines the mechanical of composite. These results will provide useful guidance for the structural design and optimization of needle-punched preform reinforced composites.

Thermo-mechanical analysis of evacuated honeycomb structures. Application to ultra-high temperature thermal insulation and structural elements

Thermal energy storage is one of the key vectors to achieve a full decarbonisation of the energy sector in order to mitigate the effects of climate change. Specifically, ultra-high temperature (>900 K) thermal storage is of particular importance as it unlocks greater energy densities and round-trip efficiencies, among other benefits. However, increased thermal losses and reduced structural strength of insulation materials constitute significant challenges in that temperature range, and insulating structures are required which retain thermal efficiency and mechanical robustness at elevated temperatures. In this paper, a thermo-mechanical analysis of evacuated honeycomb structures at ultra-high temperature is proposed, and the impact of mechanical stresses on their structural integrity and thermal efficiency is investigated. In particular, plastic yield, brittle fracture, buckling, sagging and creep are considered for mechanical failure modes. The structures are then optimised for thermal insulation efficiency whilst avoiding mechanical failure.It is found that mechanical stresses must be considered even in the absence of external loads as such structures may collapse under their own weight over time. However it is also shown that, in the absence of external loads, structurally-sound honeycomb structures at elevated temperatures (>1200 K) remain 3-14 times more thermally efficient than other non load-bearing and structurally-ideal market-available technologies, while the presence of an external load inevitably reduces their thermal efficiency. But wall thicknesses as low as 1μm may be required, which is below today’s manufacturing capacities and highlights the importance of further research into manufacturing processes beyond what is achievable today.

Assessing the Role and Efficiency of Thermal Insulation by the “BIO-GREEN PANEL” in Enhancing Sustainability in a Built Environment

The pressing concern of climate change and the imperative to mitigate CO2 emissions have significantly influenced the selection of outdoor plant species. Consequently, evaluating CO2’s environmental effects on plants has become integral to the decision-making process. Notably, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from buildings is significant in tackling the consequences of climate change and addressing energy deficiencies. This article presents a novel approach by introducing plant panels as an integral component in future building designs, epitomizing the next generation of sustainable structures and offering a new and sustainable building solution. The integration of environmentally friendly building materials enhances buildings’ indoor environments. Consequently, it becomes crucial to analyze manufacturing processes in order to reduce energy consumption, minimize waste generation, and incorporate green technologies. In this context, experimentation was conducted on six distinct plant species, revealing that the energy-saving potential of different plant types on buildings varies significantly. This finding contributes to the economy’s improvement and fosters enhanced health-related and environmental responsibility. The proposed plant panels harmonize various building components and embody a strategic approach to promote health and well-being through bio-innovation. Furthermore, this innovative solution seeks to provide a sustainable alternative by addressing the challenges of unsustainable practices, outdated standards, limited implementation of new technologies, and excessive administrative barriers in the construction industry. The obtained outcomes will provide stakeholders within the building sector with pertinent data concerning performance and durability. Furthermore, these results will enable producers to acquire essential information, facilitating product improvement.

Biobased Phase Change Material with Reduced Thermal Conductivity: From Preparation to Analysis of Thermal Insulation Performance

Coaxial fiber membranes (CFMs) with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) encapsulated by biobased poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) were prepared by coaxial electrospinning technology, whose thermal management capacity was investigated. The coaxial structure and thermal reliability were studied by transmission electron microscopy, cycle-heating experiment, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. Both heat conduction experiment and insulation experiment confirmed that the coaxial fibers have excellent thermal management capability. CFMs with PEO content of 49 wt % exhibit remarkable thermal stability and energy storage, while the thermal insulation efficiency could be improved by more than 21% comparing with a pure PLLA membrane. A Fourier equation corrected by the melting enthalpy of PEO can well describe the heating curves of CFMs, suggesting the primary and secondary effects from latent heat of PEO melting and reduced thermal conductivity of PLLA glass transition. The excellent thermal management capability and thermal stability underlies the wider application of CFMs.

Shape-stabilized composite phase change material for thermal insulation of cotton fabrics with sandwich structure

Disodium phosphate dodecahydrate was hybrid with n-octadecane as the phase change material (PCM) by reversed-phase emulsification. The cellulose sponge obtained based on cellulose nanocrystals was used as the support material to fabricate a shape-stable composite phase change material (CPCM) through impregnation. It was laminated with cotton fabric to obtain a sandwich structure thermal insulation fabric. An infrared spectrometer, scanning electron microscope, differential thermal scanning calorimeter, and other equipment were used to characterize the morphology, chemical groups, and latent heat properties of CPCMs and thermal insulation fabrics. The results displayed that the cellulose sponge had a porosity of 99.03%, a density of 0.012 g/cm3, and could withstand 1900 times its weight. When the mass proportion of PCM in the composite system was 67.5%, its latent heat energy was 84.44 J/g, which also revealed optimal shape stability. Compared to the original fabric, the thermal insulation efficiency of the sandwich structured fabric was increased by 17.7%∼18.2%, and the photothermal conversion rate reached 25.88%, with good application performance.

Physicochemical and thermomechanical performances study for Timahdite sheep wool fibers application in the building's insulation

The present research focuses on the development and thermomechanical characterization of unfired solid bricks based on clay (white and red) and Timahdite sheep wool, which are local, durable, abundant, and economical materials. As this clay material is incorporated with sheep wool in the form of yarn multi-layers in opposite directions. It achieves good thermal and mechanical performance and a lightness of these bricks as acquired progress. This new method of reinforcement offers significant thermo-mechanical performance for the composite for thermal insulation in sustainable buildings. Several physicochemical analyses to characterize the raw materials were used. Thermomechanical measurements to characterize the elaborated materials. The wool yarn effect was significant on the mechanical behavior of the developed materials at 90 days, with flexural strength from 18 to 56% for the white clay. And 8–29% for the red one. Decrease in compressive strength from 9 to 36% for the white clay and 5–18% for the red one. These mechanical performances are accompanied by thermal conductivity gain ranging from 4 to 41% for the white and 6–39% for the red for wool fractions: 6–27 g. This green multi-layered bricks from abundant local materials with optimal thermo-mechanical properties, qualified for the intended use for thermal insulation and energy efficiency in the construction and development of local economies.

ผลิตภัณฑ์คอนกรีตบล็อกมวลเบาผสมเศษเซรามิกเหลือทิ้งจากโรงงานอุตสาหกรรม สำหรับการก่อสร้างอาคารเขียว

The objectives of this research are to study the production step, proper ratio, physical properties, mechanical properties and thermal insulation of concrete blocks mixed with waste ceramic powder. The ratios of concrete block mixed with waste ceramic powder include Portland cement type1: quarry dust: waste ceramic powder equal to1: 6.8: 0.2, 1: 6.7: 0.3, 1: 6.6: 0.4, 1: 6.5: 0.5 and1: 6.4: 0.6 by weight. Water per cement ratio are 0.6 by weight. The concrete block samples were casted by the general production as same as the ordinary concrete blocks and were tested follow TIS.58. From the results, the best amount of waste ceramic powder which put into concrete block is 1: 6.7: 0.3 of ratio. The proper ratios of waste ceramic powder can decrease the density or weight, and increase the thermal insulation efficiency of concrete blocks. However, the high volume of waste ceramic powder effects to decrease the mechanical properties of concrete blocks to lower than TIS.58 standard.

Directing the pore size of rigid polyurethane foam via controlled air entrainment

The interest in polyurethane rigid (PUR) foams as potent thermally insulating materials for a wide range of applications continues to grow as the minimization of CO2 emissions has become a global issue. Controlling the thermal insulation efficiency of PUR foams starts with the control of their morphology. Although the presence of micrometric air bubbles originating from air entrainment during the blending of the PU reactive mixture has been shown to influence the final PUR foam morphology, detailed experimental investigations on how exactly they affect the final PUR foam pore size are still lacking. To fill this gap, we use a double-syringe mixing device, which allows to control the number of air bubbles generated during a first air entrainment step, before using the same device to blend the reactive components in a sealed environment, avoiding further air entrainment. Keeping all experimental parameters constant except for the air bubble density in the reactive mixture, we can correlate changes of the final PUR foam morphology with the variation of the air bubble density in the initially liquid reactive mixture. Our results confirm recent findings which suggest the presence of two different regimes of bubble nucleation and growth depending on the presence or absence of dispersed air bubbles in the liquid reactive mixture. Our study pushes those insights further by demonstrating an inverse relation between the air bubble density in the liquid reactive mixture and the final pore volume of the PUR foam. For example, at constant chemical formulation and blending conditions, we could vary the final pore size between 400–1600 μm simply by controlling the amount of pre-dispersed air bubbles within the system. We are confident that the presented approach may not only provide a valuable model experiment to scan formulations in R&D laboratories, but it may also provide suggestions for the optimization of industrial processes.

Antibiotics tetracycline adsorption and flame-retardant capacity of eco-friendly aerogel-based nanocellulose, graphene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol, and sodium bicarbonate

This study presents a new approach in aerogel based on nanocellulose, graphene oxide, and its application as a novel adsorbent in water treatment and opening up a new potential material of thermal insulation. The eco-friendly aerogel materials were prepared by combining cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), graphene oxide (GO) sheets, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) through a simple mixing and freeze-drying method. The structure of eco-friendly aerogel was also analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The specific surface area and average pore diameter of the aerogel were also measured using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. The results showed that the presence of NaHCO3 played a role as a green flame retardant in CNF/GO/PVA/NaHCO3 aerogel. It significantly improved the thermal stability, 20 times higher in combustion characteristics, and thermal insulation efficiency better 3 times than those without NaHCO3. In addition, the NaHCO3 played as an effective additive to improve not only the thermal characteristics but also the removal ability of antibiotic TC of this aerogel material. The CNF/GO/PVA/NaHCO3 aerogel has the equilibrium TC adsorption capacity of 71.34 mg×g−1 which is about 28% higher than that of CNF/GO/PVA after approximately 60 min. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model showed an agreement with the adsorption model of this type of aerogel with a correlation coefficient (R2) of more than 99%.

Analysis of the compliance of windows with up to day energy efficiency requirements

Due to the consequences of the energy and environmental crises, reducing energy consumption in buildings is an urgent task, both globally and nationally. It is this goal that causes a constant increase in the requirements for resistance to heat transfer of the external enclosing structures of buildings in climatic conditions, where the design temperature of the outside air is at the level of -20ºС. Increasing the resistance of non-transparent enclosing structures is achieved by available means that allow guaranteed achievement of the designated resistance to heat transfer. Increasing the heat transfer resistance of transparent (or translucent) enclosing structures has limitations that limit the maximum values. The analysis of window designs that are offered on the construction market of Ukraine in the context of the requirements of DBN V.2.6.31-2021 "Thermal insulation and energy efficiency of buildings" was carried out. To increase the resistance to heat transfer of windows, the manufacturer has (today) three constructive means - an increase in the number of chambers, the use of selective coatings and filling the chambers with an inert gas argon. It should also be taken into account that the production of windows is a multicriteria task, in which the achievement of a certain level of resistance to heat transfer is one of the factors among others, no less important. The results of the analysis show that the fulfillment of the requirement Rqmin≥0.9 m2•ºС/W for the first temperature zone of Ukraine requires the use of all technical means available from manufacturers. A sample of eighty-two window designs that are actually offered on the Ukrainian construction market was analyzed. Compliance with the requirements for the second temperature zone was achieved for forty-three percent of window designs. Compliance with the requirements for the first temperature zone was achieved for seventeen percent of window designs. The complexity and increased cost of such structures may necessitate additional control measures at the completion of construction and during the operation of buildings.

Rejuvenating the Market for Earth-Based Building Construction Materials in a Developing Economy

Earth-based materials are useful in building and engineering construction projects globally, but they have largely remained unextracted and wasted, and their use has been limited to rural areas and avoided in modern buildings in the cities. The sustainability market in developing countries is still largely unsaturated and undertapped. This situation is blamed on lack of knowledge of the potential, benefits, and characteristics of green and sustainable building materials. This study aimed at determining the benefits of earth-based materials that could lead to the rejuvenation of the market for their adoption in building construction projects in the urban areas of a developing economy. The study adopted a structured questionnaire administered via electronic means to construction experts using the snowball sampling technique in Nigeria. With a response rate of 62.94% and a reliability index of over 0.90, the gathered data were analysed using frequency, percentage, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The study revealed that the main clusters of benefits of earth-based materials that can stimulate the market for these materials in urban areas are "cost and pollution-related benefits," "emissions and environmental benefits," "waste and workability benefits," "sound and fire-related benefits," and "thermal insulation and resource efficiency." The study recommended that housing investors, clients, and stakeholders should capitalise on the availability of large quantities of earthen materials to improve the quantity of housing provisions in cities and urban areas.

Thermal Insulation and Compressive Performances of 3D Printing Flexible Load-Bearing and Thermal Insulation Integrated Lattice

Structurally and functionally integrated materials usually face the problem of serious functional degradation after large deformation or fracture, such as load-bearing and thermal insulation integrated lattice. In this work, the lattice with a big width-thickness ratio, which empowered the flexibility of the lattice by reducing the rod deformation during compression, was proposed. The structure of the lattice almost kept integrality after large deformation or fracture, and the decay of thermal insulation performance was less. Compared with the conventional lattice, the big width-thickness ratio lattice obtained favorable thermal insulation performance. On this basis, two kinds of flexible load-bearing and thermal insulation integrated hourglass lattices with big width-thickness ratios (BWR lattice) were prepared by SLM, and the thermal insulation and compressive performances were measured. The thermal insulation efficiency could reach 83% at 700 °C. The lattice would recover after large deformation or fracture, and the thermal insulation efficiency of the fracture lattice was 75%. This work provides a new way of designing load-bearing and thermal insulation integrated lattice and achieves the functionality preservation of load-bearing and thermal insulation integrated lattice after large deformations and fractures.

3D-printed SiC lattices integrated with lightweight quartz fiber/silica aerogel sandwich structure for thermal protection system

A lightweight thermal protection/insulation integrated sandwich structure for the aerospace thermal protection system (TPS) was developed with the aim of achieving superior mechanical strength and thermal insulation properties. On the one hand, the lattice frameworks of silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic thermally insulated components with body-centered lattice core (BCLC) were fabricated by selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing technology; on the other hand, the sol–gel process was applied to fill quartz fibers reinforced silica (Qf/SiO2) aerogel into the hollow parts of the BCLCs to form a sandwich structure, thus further enhancing the mechanical and thermal insulation properties. To explore the impact of lattice core structure gradient on performance, we designed two types of BCLCs, single-layer one and double-layer one. By comparing the properties of the sandwich structures with the BCLCs, it was found that after the hot surface temperature was kept at 1000℃ for 1500 s, the backside temperature of the single-layer and double-layer sandwich structures decreased by 69.15℃ and 112.73℃, respectively, implying that the thermal insulation efficiency increased by 8.75 % and 13.85 %, respectively. Remarkably, it was precisely due to the filling of the Qf/SiO2 aerogels that the compressive strength of the single-layer and double-layer sandwich structures reached 119.41 MPa and 35.16 MPa, respectively, which were successfully improved by 238.56 % and 256.23 %, respectively, in comparison with the BCLCs structures. Consequently, this study provides an efficient and reliable method for the preparation of thermal protection/insulation integrated components by using 3D printing technology combined with the sol–gel method, which has broader significance among academic and industrial communities.

Temperature-adaptable pressure sensors based on MXene-coated GO hierarchical aerogels with superb detection capability

With the broader application of intelligent sensors in various complex conditions, sensing materials with better mechanical and conductive properties as well as higher temperature adaptability are required. For this purpose, a GO/PVA/MXene (GPM) composite aerogel was designed and prepared via a two-step strategy, including self-assembly and vacuum-assisted dip-coating processes. The as-prepared GPM has a unique structure composed of hierarchical GO network skeleton and MXene coating, endowing it with high Young's modulus (11.2 kPa) and compressibility (90%). Demonstrated with the finite element (FE) simulation, the elasticity and toughness of the GPM are originated from the hierarchical microstructure and the improved thickness of shells. Besides, the GPM exhibits a long-term durability of 5,000 compression cycles at 50% strain, a high sensitivity of 1.744 kPa−1, and a rapid response time of 4.5 ms. Further application examples reveal that the pressure sensor based on GPM has superior physiological signal capture capability, realizing fingertip pulse and temporal artery detections. Moreover, the GPM aerogel possesses high thermal insulation efficiency, resulting in good temperature adaptability in harsh environments from −196 °C to 300 °C. The sensitive pressure sensors should have the potential application in many fields of intelligent factories, complex militaries, and space discoveries.

Producing sustainable concrete with plastic waste: A review

Plastics are cheap, lightweight, versatile, and readily accessible material. The utilization of plastic has become a necessary facet of our day-to-day lives, and its production has risen exponentially in the last 50 years. As a result, there is an increase in the generation of waste related to plastic that leads to undermining the environment. This encourages researchers to use this waste in concrete manufacturing as a sustainable material. However, this paper reviews recent research on how the utilization of recycled plastic in concrete is an effective solution to enhance sound and thermal insulation. The aggregate comprises the largest and heaviest portion of concrete, which accounts for 85% of its weight. Besides, the plastic has a low density compared to the aggregate. As a result, the use of plastic waste as a partial replacement (50% to 75%) for the total aggregate significantly boosts the efficiency of thermal and sound lightweight concrete insulation. In addition, the cost of its manufacturing is drastically diminishing in comparison to that of ordinary concrete, and plastic can be installed and utilized quickly with less labor due to its lightweight nature. Plastic waste may be considered a typical material for the production of lightweight green concrete that can be used as a non-structural component in building construction.