Materials from Renewable Sources as Thermal Insulation for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB)

Abstract

Reducing the energy demand in the building sector is a priority in all EU strategies related to energy efficiency, climate and resources. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD recast 2010/31/EU) and Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU) constitute the key legislation of the EU in terms of reducing the energy consumption of buildings and their release of greenhouse gas emissions. According to recast EPBD, starting from January 2019 new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities should be Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB), while from 2021, this requirement applies to all new buildings and is likely to greatly increase the quantities of insulation materials, used in the construction sector. In this context, the paper presents general properties of thermal insulation materials from renewable sources, with the aim to raise awareness on the necessity of these products on Romanian/ European market and to increase the interest of the producers for these materials, also for technologies required for using renewables in nZEB. The paper focuses on the straw and sorghum as materials from local agricultural waste that could be integrated into insulation products, and provides additional information for these materials in order to facilitate their use as materials for nZEB.