Determination of Optimum Insulation Thickness in Building Insulation in Tokat Province and Its Effect on CO2 Emission

Abstract

Agricultural structures are generally classified as rural structures, animal-plant production structures and protection-storage structures. As in all types of buildings, it is necessary to reduce energy costs by reducing thermal losses/gains in agricultural structures. Thus, the damage caused by the waste gases released to people and the environment is also reduced. For these reasons, it has become important to determine the type and thickness of the insulation material used to reduce thermal losses/gains in a way that will provide the most economic benefit. In this study, optimum insulation thicknesses, annual savings, payback period and reduction in CO₂ emissions on the outer walls of the building for heating and heating-cooling applications in Tokat province were calculated. Although the desired temperature values differ according to the building types, this study for residences is also an adaptive prediction for agricultural building types. XPS (extruded polystyrene) and RW (rock wool) insulation materials were used for two different wall types. Natural gas for heating and electricity for cooling were selected as energy sources. DD (degree day) and LCA (life cycle analysis) methods were used for thermal and economic analysis. According to the wall type, the optimum insulation thickness of XPS insulation material is 0.032m-0.029m for heating, 0.071m-0.068m for heating-cooling, payback period is 5.13years-6.92years for heating, 2.32years-2.94years for heating-cooling, and the reduction in CO₂ emission is calculated as 64.57%-57.77% for heating, 80.46%-76.28% for heating-cooling. According to the wall type, the optimum insulation thickness of RW insulation material was 0.023m-0.019m for heating, 0.055m-0.051m for heating-cooling, payback period 8.20years-11.93 years for heating, 3.33years-4.3years for heating-cooling, and the reduction in CO₂ emission was determined as 53.98%-44.65% for heating, 73.69%-68.49% for heating-cooling. In the insulation application of buildings, it has been determined that it is more appropriate to prefer XPS insulation material because it is more advantageous than RW insulation material in terms of both payback period and economy and environmental impact in reducing CO₂ emissions, at the calculated optimum insulation thicknesses.