Renovation Strategies for Single-Family Homes Using Biobased Materials: The Case of Denmark
Translated title
Renoveringsstrategier for enfamiliehuse med biobaserede materialer: Case of Danmark
Author
Chen, Mao
Term
4. term
Publication year
2026
Submitted on
2026-06-04
Abstract
The building sector uses a lot of energy and emits substantial greenhouse gases, making renovation important for meeting climate targets. This thesis examines whether bio-based insulation materials can lower the climate impact of Danish detached houses. Four typical single-family homes from 1957, 1965, 1975, and 1983 were assessed using BE18 for energy simulations and LCAbyg for lifecycle assessment (LCA). Renovation scenarios with cellulose, wood fiber, and cork insulation were compared with conventional mineral wool. BE18 results showed that renovation significantly reduced operational energy (the energy used in day-to-day operation) in all cases. The largest improvement was in the 1957 house, where annual energy use per square meter fell from about 541.9 to 94.7 kWh. LCA results confirmed that operational energy remained the dominant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Bio-based insulation consistently had lower embodied emissions (from producing and installing materials) than mineral wool, due to lower production impacts and temporary carbon storage. Compared with conventional solutions, bio-based scenarios reduced total global warming potential (GWP) by approximately 1.0–2.1%. Overall, bio-based materials can support more sustainable renovation by cutting embodied carbon, and renovating with bio-based insulation is a promising way to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions in Danish residential buildings.
Bygningssektoren står for meget energiforbrug og store drivhusgasudledninger, så renovering er vigtig for at nå klimamål. Denne afhandling undersøger, om biobaserede isoleringsmaterialer kan reducere klimaaftrykket i danske parcelhuse. Fire typiske enfamiliehuse fra 1957, 1965, 1975 og 1983 blev vurderet med energisimuleringer i BE18 og livscyklusvurdering (LCA) i LCAbyg. Renoveringsscenarier med cellulose, træfiber og kork blev sammenlignet med konventionel mineraluld. Resultaterne fra BE18 viste, at renovering markant reducerede driftsenergi (energi, der bruges i husets daglige brug) i alle cases. Den største forbedring sås i 1957-bygningen, hvor det årlige energibehov pr. m² faldt fra ca. 541,9 til 94,7 kWh. LCA-resultaterne bekræftede, at driftsenergi fortsat var den dominerende kilde til drivhusgasudledninger. Biobaseret isolering havde gennemgående lavere indlejrede emissioner (udledninger fra fremstilling og installation af materialer) end mineraluld på grund af lavere produktionspåvirkninger og midlertidig kulstoflagring. Sammenlignet med konventionelle løsninger reducerede biobaserede scenarier den samlede globale opvarmningspotentiale (GWP) med ca. 1,0–2,1 %. Samlet peger resultaterne på, at biobaserede materialer kan understøtte mere bæredygtige renoveringer ved at reducere indlejret kulstof, og at renovering med biobaseret isolering er en lovende vej til at sænke drivhusgasudledninger over bygningens livscyklus i danske boliger.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
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