Nowadays, sustainable construction is a key factor for reaching net-zero emissions of carbon dioxide all over the world. This goal is impossible to achieve by merely reducing the energy consumption of end-users. A more holistic approach should be taken, adopting sustainable industrial practices that use environmentally friendly materials on a large scale. This paper presents the analysis of the hydrothermal properties of hemp thermal insulation plates. We carried out extensive measurements and the analysis of the thermal conductivity coefficient, drying-out dynamics, and water absorption. The study was performed with experimental insulation samples based on the fiber obtained from hemp stems, prepared using different adhesive powders. The dimensions of the analyzed samples were 300 × 300 mm. The proposed samples are not yet available in mass production. Hemp does not flower in the Baltic region and was traditionally used for soil regeneration. Thus, using this raw material increases the added value of agricultural residues. Three series of hemp fiber samples with different substances and pressing modes were evaluated in the study. Each set of samples consisted of four plates with varying thicknesses and two different densities: 200 kg/m3 and 300 kg/m3. All samples exhibited a significant increase in moisture absorption and a strong correlation with the increase in thermal conductivity. The average thermal conductivity of the test samples ranged from 0.0544 to 0.0594 W/mK. The impact of the adhesive powder on the thermal conductivity was found to be extremely small. However, the values obtained were much higher than those for traditional thermal insulation materials, allowing to utilize the local agriculture residues and providing material for the construction of eco-friendly buildings.
Abstract. Today a number of renewable energy technologies are available for power generation, but fossil fuels are still providing a dominant share nevertheless. In order to decrease the electric bill and save our environment, energy conservation is always crucial. In this paper a very interesting idea is presented which is economically viable to reduce electricity usage in our buildings. An effort has been made to estimate the amount of energy that could be saved in the dormitory section of the IMOP building in Russia. Although there are many ways to reduce the consumption of electricity in this building but here the emphasis is on changing light bulbs inside the rooms, kitchen, toilet and bathroom of each apartment. The scope of the study is to figure out monthly electricity saving by replacing traditional light bulbs by LED light bulbs in the building under consideration. The total investment required and the payback period is also presented.
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