A life cycle assessment of PCM and VIP in warm Mediterranean climates and their introduction as a strategy to promote energy savings and mitigate carbon emissions

Dimitra Papadaki; Spyros Foteinis; Vasileios Binas; Margarita N. Assimakopoulos; Theocharis Tsoutsos; George Kiriakidis; Dimitra Papadaki; Spyros Foteinis; Vasileios Binas; Margarita N. Assimakopoulos; Theocharis Tsoutsos; George Kiriakidis

doi:10.3934/matersci.2019.6.944

AIMS Materials Science

2019, Volume 6, Issue 6: 944-959. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2019.6.944

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Research article Special Issues

A life cycle assessment of PCM and VIP in warm Mediterranean climates and their introduction as a strategy to promote energy savings and mitigate carbon emissions

1.
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Physics Department, University Campus, Zografou, Athens, 15784
2.
Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser (IESL), Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH) 100, N. Plastira str, Vassilika Vouton, GR-70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
3.
Greek Public Power Corporation (PPC) Renewables S.A., Kapodistriou 3, Ag. Paraskeui, GR-15343, Attica, Greece
4.
Crete Center for Quantum Complexity and Nanotechnology, Department of Physics, University of Crete, PO Box 2208, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
5.
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Lab, School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, GR-73100 Chania, Greece
6.
Physics Department, University of Crete, Vassilika Vouton, GR-71110 Heraklion, Crete, Greece

Received: 11 July 2019 Accepted: 24 September 2019 Published: 18 October 2019

The building stock in southern Europe grossly lacks sufficient thermal envelope insulation, leading to high energy inputs and corresponding CO₂ emissions. Phase change materials (PCMs) and vacuum insulations panels (VIPs) could be an innovative way to curtail the high heating and cooling energy inputs to maintain comfort; however, their efficiency and environmental performance in the southern Mediterranean climate is largely unknown. To this end, two demo houses, 27 m³ each, were constructed in the island of Crete, southern Greece. The first was constructed using conventional building materials, while in the second PCMs and VIPs were used, as a research test-bed. Actual life cycle inventory (LCI) data were collected and the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was employed to estimate the environmental impacts attributed both to their construction and operational phase. Compared to the conventional demo house the one covered with PCMs and VIPs appear to have a 34% higher total environmental footprint, which is attributed to the production process of PCMs and VIPs. Nonetheless, the energy savings observed during the operational phase, attributed to their higher thermal insulation, can compensate the higher environmental footprint of the construction phase within a year, depending on PCM’s enthalpy. Specifically, it was identified that PCMs and VIPs largely reduced daily indoor temperature fluctuations, improving indoor thermal comfort and leading to energy savings. As such, even though their installation is associated with an initial higher environmental footprint, large energy savings, compared to conventional demo house, are achieved during its operational phase. This suggests that the introduction of PCMs and VIPs could be an efficient and environmentally friendly route to enhance energy savings and reduce the environmental footprint of building stock.
Citation: Dimitra Papadaki, Spyros Foteinis, Vasileios Binas, Margarita N. Assimakopoulos, Theocharis Tsoutsos, George Kiriakidis. A life cycle assessment of PCM and VIP in warm Mediterranean climates and their introduction as a strategy to promote energy savings and mitigate carbon emissions[J]. AIMS Materials Science, 2019, 6(6): 944-959. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2019.6.944

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Abstract

The building stock in southern Europe grossly lacks sufficient thermal envelope insulation, leading to high energy inputs and corresponding CO₂ emissions. Phase change materials (PCMs) and vacuum insulations panels (VIPs) could be an innovative way to curtail the high heating and cooling energy inputs to maintain comfort; however, their efficiency and environmental performance in the southern Mediterranean climate is largely unknown. To this end, two demo houses, 27 m³ each, were constructed in the island of Crete, southern Greece. The first was constructed using conventional building materials, while in the second PCMs and VIPs were used, as a research test-bed. Actual life cycle inventory (LCI) data were collected and the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was employed to estimate the environmental impacts attributed both to their construction and operational phase. Compared to the conventional demo house the one covered with PCMs and VIPs appear to have a 34% higher total environmental footprint, which is attributed to the production process of PCMs and VIPs. Nonetheless, the energy savings observed during the operational phase, attributed to their higher thermal insulation, can compensate the higher environmental footprint of the construction phase within a year, depending on PCM’s enthalpy. Specifically, it was identified that PCMs and VIPs largely reduced daily indoor temperature fluctuations, improving indoor thermal comfort and leading to energy savings. As such, even though their installation is associated with an initial higher environmental footprint, large energy savings, compared to conventional demo house, are achieved during its operational phase. This suggests that the introduction of PCMs and VIPs could be an efficient and environmentally friendly route to enhance energy savings and reduce the environmental footprint of building stock.

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