Developing a Database of Bio-based Materials for Building Envelope Applications

Technical Report · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 2024

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/2372975· OSTI ID:2372975

Zhang, Rui ^[1]; Tang, Mengjia ^[1]; Iffa, Emishaw ^[1]; Desjarlais, Andre Omer ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) to help accelerate the introduction of building envelope materials that would reduce the carbon footprint of the buildings sector. The DOE’s Building Technologies Office has historically sought to resolve the knowledge gaps regarding the energy efficiency and moisture durability of building envelope systems and to develop the data, guidance, and tools needed to facilitate rapid industry adoption of high-performance, moisture-managed envelope systems. This project will help accelerate the widespread acceptance of a new generation of building materials developed specifically with the intent of reducing the carbon footprint of buildings. We have produced a database of hygrothermal transport properties on low embodied carbon building materials that can be added to energy and durability simulation tools. Properties that were measured include density, heat capacity, thermal conductivity as a function of temperature and relative humidity, moisture dependent permeance, and sorption isotherms as a function of relative humidity. These data sets were measured following consensus national standards using state-of-the-art facilities. The data has been compiled and is being made available to building designers who require these data to assess these new materials in their designs. We will publish the data and seek its addition to reference databases such as the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Building Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 2372975
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM--2024/3354
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
42 ENGINEERING