Menu
In recent times, one of the main topics in the construction industry is environmental sustainability. Environmental sustainability in buildings involves the development of buildings with materials that minimize negative impacts on the environment, while preserving resources for future generations. “Eco-friendly” material is defined as such by analyzing its harmless effects throughout its entire life cycle – from the extraction of raw materials through to production processes, usage, and final disposal. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluates the material’s life cycle impacts and is a scientific and objective procedure governed by European ISO 14040 series standards, to determine environmental impacts.
The assessment of material eco-compatibility in the construction sector through the LCA methodology must consider two types of environmental impacts:
– Direct impact: energy resources required for product production and transportation.
– Indirect impact: energy resources saved as a result of product use.
A common claim among less experienced experts in the industry is to keep insulation materials made from natural materials that are more environmentally friendly than EPS panels (expanded polystyrene derived from petroleum). By comparing data obtained through LCA methodology for some of the materials used as insulation in building construction, we can conclude the inappropriateness and unfoundedness of claims that expanded polystyrene is an environmentally incompatible material.
Insulation material becomes environmentally beneficial when it reaches a natural return time, which is when the amount of CO2 emitted during production is offset by the amount that is not emitted into the atmosphere through thermal insulation. For the production of 1 m2 Terrasit Pixel Line, 8.83 kg CO2 was emitted, while its annual use resulted in not emitting 16.35 kg CO2 into the atmosphere. The return time, or Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) estimation for the TERRASIT PIXEL LINE panel is only 6 months, which actively contributes to environmental sustainability and clearly measurable economic savings.
(GWP – Global Warming Potential) Global Warming Potential is one of the most important indicators in product life cycle assessment (LCA), measuring the amount of CO2 and other potential greenhouse gases created during the production of a specific material. Based on the table, it can be concluded that the production of EPS insulation is more environmentally compatible, compared to other materials used for insulation that are already present in nature.
|
Materials
|
λ
|
GWP (global warming potential)
|
|---|---|---|
|
EPS Terrasit Pixel line
|
0,031
|
8,8
|
|
Stone wool
|
0,038
|
24,00
|
|
Cork
|
0,040
|
12,00
|
Saving resources through the use of thermal insulation in buildings is expressed as the amount of energy saved for heating or cooling the building, which means a reduction in CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Insulation of 1 m2 of building surface in our region, with a thickness of 100 mm, allows savings of up to 64.15 KWh per year, while simultaneously reducing the release of CO2 into the atmosphere.
|
Indicators
|
Value
|
|---|---|
|
kWh/annual savings
|
64,15
|
|
CO2 kg/not issued annually
|
16,35
|
With the development of new programs and new technologies, we have built successful brands in the field of products for construction, industry and packaging, i.e. thermal insulation, products for industry, floor heating and packaging.
Terrasit is the company that manufactures products from expanded polystyrene (EPS) and expanded polypropylene (EPP) for construction, industry, and packaging.
Branilaca grada b.b. – Industrijska zona, 75320
+387 35 705 163 info@terrasit.com
Terrasit d.o.o. 2023 © All rights reserved
