Comparative Performance Analysis of Mass Timber, Conventional, and SIPs Envelope Systems in Residential Buildings.
Abstract
The building envelope is one of the main contributors to heat loss in buildings, directly impacting energy consumption and occupant thermal comfort. Various studies have shown that optimizing the building envelope can significantly improve energy efficiency and provide cost savings. In the U.S., residential housing accounts for about 21% of the total energy use, presenting a substantial opportunity for energy reduction through retrofitting solutions. This research focuses on evaluating the life cycle assessment (LCA), hygrothermal performance using WUFI simulations, and thermal resilience of three distinct residential building envelope systems: Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), a bio-based Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) system, and a conventional stick-built system with continuous insulation. These systems are chosen based on their common applicability to the climate conditions and the sustainability demand of the materials. The benefits and limitations in terms of carbon emission, and energy efficiency of each system are evaluated to aid further development of sustainable and energy-efficient building envelope.
Keywords: Life-cycle Analysis (LCA), Building Envelope System, Energy efficiency, Thermal Resilience.
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