Incorporating Eco-Friendly Materials in Wall Construction: Enhancing Thermal Performance and Sustainability

Addressing sustainable methods to enhance the thermal performance of building envelopes becomes essential considering that buildings account for 38% of all energy-related CO2 emissions worldwide. This paper focuses on investigating the thermal performance of a wall constructed with hollow bricks made of lightweight concrete and eco-friendly materials. Three case solutions are analyzed: lightweight concrete with recycled PET, lightweight concrete with polystyrene waste, and lightweight concrete with sawdust waste. Simulations are conducted in Autodesk CFD Simulation Software, comparing empty cavities to those filled with insulation material. The results demonstrated that the volumetric contribution of voids, which constituted a mere 10.52% of the total wall volume, had a negligible impact on the overall thermal conductivity of the wall. Analyzing the effectiveness of the PET, polystyrene, and sawdust composite within the concrete blocks revealed that incorporating polystyrene yielded the most efficient block configuration. Notably, optimal efficiency was achieved by integrating polystyrene within the concrete matrix and insulating the voids, while the least effective scenario involved incorporating sawdust into the concrete block without void insulation. The aim is to assess the thermal behavior and efficiency of the wall, emphasizing the potential of eco-friendly materials for achieving sustainable building design. These findings underscore the importance of carefully selecting materials and insulation strategies to optimize the thermal performance of building envelopes.