Life cycle energy and cost analysis of thin flooring panels with enhanced thermal efficiency

Abstract

Ondol is the popular house heating system in Korea onto which hardwood flooring is laid. However, the low heat conductivity of the wooden flooring decreases heating efficiency. To address this issue, a thin flooring panel was developed. For practical applications, this material's performance, life cycle energy, and costs must be evaluated. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the life cycle energy and cost of the developed flooring with enhanced thermal efficiency. The energy analysis focuses on heating energy consumption in the maintenance phase, while the cost analysis focuses on the installation, repair, and replacement costs. As a result of this study, energy consumption was 7.2% lower and cost was 9.62% lower compared with the conventional wooden panel.