On the Retrofit of Existing Buildings with Aerogel Panels: Energy, Environmental and Economic Issues

Paola Marrone, Francesco Asdrubali, Daniela Venanzi, Federico Orsini, Luca Evangelisti, Claudia Guattari, Roberto De Lieto Vollaro, Lucia Fontana, Gianluca Grazieschi, Paolo Matteucci and Marta Roncone
Additional contact information
Paola Marrone: Department of Architecture, Roma TRE University, via Madonna dei Monti 40, 00184 Rome, Italy
Francesco Asdrubali: Department of Engineering, Roma TRE University, via Vito Volterra 62, 00146 Rome, Italy
Federico Orsini: Department of Architecture, Roma TRE University, via Madonna dei Monti 40, 00184 Rome, Italy
Luca Evangelisti: Department of Engineering, Roma TRE University, via Vito Volterra 62, 00146 Rome, Italy
Claudia Guattari: Department of Engineering, Roma TRE University, via Vito Volterra 62, 00146 Rome, Italy
Roberto De Lieto Vollaro: Department of Engineering, Roma TRE University, via Vito Volterra 62, 00146 Rome, Italy
Lucia Fontana: Department of Architecture, Roma TRE University, via Madonna dei Monti 40, 00184 Rome, Italy
Gianluca Grazieschi: Department of Engineering, Roma TRE University, via Vito Volterra 62, 00146 Rome, Italy
Paolo Matteucci: Department of Economics, Roma TRE University, via Silvio D’Amico 77, 00145 Rome, Italy
Marta Roncone: Department of Engineering, Roma TRE University, via Vito Volterra 62, 00146 Rome, Italy

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-22

Abstract: Among the super insulating materials, aerogel has interesting properties: very low thermal conductivity and density, resistance to high temperatures and transparency. It is a rather expensive material, but incentives in the field can improve its economic attractiveness. Starting from this, the thermal behavior of a test building entirely insulated with aerogel panels was investigated through an extended experimental campaign. A dynamic simulation model of a case study building was generated to better comprehend the energy savings obtained through aerogel in terms of energy demand over a whole year. The investigation was completed by computing the carbon and energy payback times of various retrofit strategies through a life cycle assessment approach, as well as by a cost-benefit analysis through a probabilistic financial framework. Compared to conventional insulation materials, aerogel is characterized by a higher energy and carbon payback time, but it guarantees better environmental performance in the whole life cycle. From an economic-financial perspective, the aerogel retrofit is the best in the current tax incentive scenario. However, due to its higher lump-sum investment, aerogel’s net present value is very sensitive to tax deductions, and it is riskier than the best comparable materials in less favorable tax scenarios.

Keywords: aerogel; thermal behavior; dynamic simulation; retrofitting; LCA; economic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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