Embodied Energy Analysis of Different Types of Wall Insulating Materials Used in Buildings

Several approaches have emerged in recent years for Building energy analyzes from construction to demolition. These methodologies are often categorized into three stages: embodied energy, operational energy and demolition energy. During the life of a building, operational energy accounts for 40–60% of overall life cycle energy. However, this operational energy can be reduced by using advanced energy saving materials, but this increases the building’s embodied energy. Accordingly based on various past research the increased embodied energy is minimized by conserving energy during the working phase of the building. The structure's envelope should be created in accordance with the environmental conditions of that site since the environment and topography of that area have a significant impact on how much energy the building consumes. In the present work, A residential house’s (G + 1) outside wall embodied energy is around 60–68% of the overall structure's embodied energy. The embodied energy of six distinct types of wall insulating materials is calculated and compared with non-insulated (NI) walls. The insulating wall materials of varying thicknesses are considered. The increased embodied energy and percentage of embodied energy savings of several types of wall insulating material are also compared. It is observed that the outside wall's embodied energy increases as its insulation increases. 125 mm thick cellulose insulation (CI) has the highest embodied energy saving of 13.55% and the lowest increase in embodied energy of 104.13 MJ/m2. 250 mm thick Polyurethane foam spray (PUI) has the lowest embodied energy saving of—16.75% and the highest increase in embodied energy of 1413.15 MJ/m2.