Almost half of the total energy produced in the developed world is inefficiently used to heat, cool, ventilate and control humidity in buildings, to meet the increasingly high thermal comfort levels demanded by occupants. The utilisation of advanced materials and passive technologies in buildings would substantially reduce the energy demand and improve the environmental impact and carbon footprint of building stock worldwide.Materials for energy efficiency and thermal comfort in buildings critically reviews the advanced building materials applicable for improving the built environment. Part one reviews both fundamental building physics and occupant comfort in buildings, from heat and mass transport, hygrothermal behaviour, and ventilation, on to thermal comfort and health and safety requirements.Part two details the development of advanced materials and sustainable technologies for application in buildings, beginning with a review of lifecycle assessment and environmental profiling of materials. The section moves on to review thermal insulation materials, materials for heat and moisture control, and heat energy storage and passive cooling technologies. Part two concludes with coverage of modern methods of construction, roofing design and technology, and benchmarking of façades for optimised building thermal performance.Finally, Part three reviews the application of advanced materials, design and technologies in a range of existing and new building types, including domestic, commercial and high-performance buildings, and buildings in hot and tropical climates.This book is of particular use to, mechanical, electrical and HVAC engineers, architects and low-energy building practitioners worldwide, as well as to academics and researchers in the fields of building physics, civil and building engineering, and materials science. - Explores improving energy efficiency and thermal comfort through material selection and sustainable technologies - Documents the development of advanced materials and sustainable technologies for applications in building design and construction - Examines fundamental building physics and occupant comfort in buildings featuring heat and mass transport, hygrothermal behaviour and ventilation

Thermal and Acoustic Insulation deals with general aspects of thermal insulation, condensation, properties of inorganic insulation materials, organic high void insulation materials, glass, and glazing. The book also describes noise insulation, computerized insulation calculations, fire properties of insulation materials. The book explains thermal insulation, heat transfer (through conduction, convection, radiation), the theory of water vapor diffusion, and dehumidification. The two types of insulation materials in common use prevent the passage of radiant heat through reflection or by impede the flow of conducted heat. The engineer should choose insulation materials with a low thermal conductivity that also have a very high void content. The book suggests, in practice, a material with a k-value of 0.035. The other properties of insulation materials are mechanical strength, physical resistance, chemical resistance, temperature limits, fire resistance, hygroscopy, fungoid resistance, and pest resistance. The text describes a variety of materials are suitable for insulation, such as gypsum, foamed asbestos, foam glass, glass fiber wool, expanded perlite, vermiculite, and foamed plastics. The book will prove beneficial for architects, for computer programmers involved in insulation, for engineers working in building construction, insulation, fire prevention, as well as for private house- or corporate building-owners.

Recycling of Polyurethane Foams introduces the main degradation/depolymerization processes and pathways of polyurethane foam materials, focusing on industrial case studies and academic reviews from recent research and development projects. The book can aid practitioners in understanding the basis of polymer degradation and its relationship with industrial processes, which can be of substantial value to industrial complexes the world over. The main pathways of polymer recycling via different routes and industrial schemes are detailed, covering all current techniques, including regrinding, rebinding, adhesive pressing and compression moulding of recovered PU materials that are then compared with depolymerization approaches. The book examines life cycle assessment and cost analysis associated with polyurethane foams waste management, showing the potential of various techniques. This book will help academics and researchers identify and improve on current depolymerization processes, and it will help industry sustainability professionals choose the appropriate approach for their own waste management systems, thus minimizing the costs and environmental impact of their PU-based end products. - Offers a comprehensive review of all polyurethane foam recycling processes, including both chemical and mechanical approaches - Assesses the potential of each recycling process - Helps industry-based practitioners decide which approach to take to minimize the cost and environmental impact of their end product - Enables academics and researchers to identify and improve upon current processes of degradation and depolymerization

Cost-Effective Energy Efficient Building Retrofitting:Materials, Technologies, Optimization and Case Studies provides essential knowledge for civil engineers, architects, and other professionals working in the field of cost-effective energy efficient building retrofitting. The building sector is responsible for high energy consumption and its global demand is expected to grow as each day there are approximately 200,000 new inhabitants on planet Earth. The majority of electric energy will continue to be generated from the combustion of fossil fuels releasing not only carbon dioxide, but also methane and nitrous oxide. Energy efficiency measures are therefore crucial to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of the building sector. Energy efficient building retrofitting needs to not only be technically feasible, but also economically viable. New building materials and advanced technologies already exist, but the knowledge to integrate all active components is still scarce and far from being widespread among building industry stakeholders. - Emphasizes cost-effective methods for the refurbishment of existing buildings, presenting state-of-the-art technologies - Includes detailed case studies that explain various methods and Net Zero Energy - Explains optimal analysis and prioritization of cost effective strategies

This book gives information and guidance on important subjects. It presents the major and efficient applications for efficient insulation materials. The book is divided into two parts. Part I discusses ecological insulation materials. In this part, the three sub-subjects are drafting, Unconventional insulation materials, Jute-Based Insulation Material, and Possible Applications of Corn Cob as a Raw Insulation Material. Part II: discusses Practical Applying and Performance of Insulation Materials (case studies), where three sub-subjects are drafting seismic aspects of the application of thermal insulation boards beneath the building's foundations, flammability of bio-based rigid polyurethane foam thermal insulation, and the review of some commonly used methods and techniques to measure the thermal conductivity of insulation materials.