Seagrass as Climate-Smart Insulation for the Tropics: Key Insights from Numerical Simulations and Field Studies

Benno Rothstein (), Lena Heiderich, Michael Bühler () and Lalit Kishor Bhati
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Benno Rothstein: Faculty of Civil Engineering, Konstanz University of Applied Sciences (HTWG), 78462 Konstanz, Germany
Lena Heiderich: Faculty of Engineering, Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
Michael Bühler: Faculty of Civil Engineering, Konstanz University of Applied Sciences (HTWG), 78462 Konstanz, Germany
Lalit Kishor Bhati: PATH Architects & Planners, Auroville 605101, India

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-28

Abstract: Seagrass ecosystems provide essential ecological services and are increasingly recognized for their potential as sustainable building insulation. While prior studies have examined seagrass insulation in temperate climates, its suitability for tropical construction remains largely unexplored. This study assesses the insulation performance, practical challenges, and adoption barriers of seagrass insulation in tropical climates, using building physics simulations and structured expert interviews, with case studies in Seychelles and Auroville, India. Simulation results indicate that seagrass insulation with its high specific heat capacity effectively reduces overheating risks and demonstrates consistently low mould-growth potential under persistently humid tropical conditions. Despite these technical advantages, expert interviews reveal significant non-technical barriers, including negative public perception, regulatory uncertainties, and logistical complexities. Seychelles faces particular hurdles such as limited coastal storage capacity and stringent environmental regulations. In contrast, Auroville emerges as an ideal demonstration site due to its strong sustainability culture and openness to innovative building materials. The study further identifies that integrating seagrass insulation into a structured, regulated supply chain—from sustainable harvesting and processing to quality assurance—could simultaneously enhance ecosystem conservation and material availability. Implementing a harvesting framework analogous to sustainable forestry could ensure environmental protection alongside supply stability. The findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted awareness initiatives, regulatory alignment, and economic feasibility assessments to overcome barriers and enable wider adoption. Overall, this research highlights seagrass insulation as a promising, climate-positive construction material with strong potential under tropical conditions, provided that identified logistical, societal, and regulatory challenges are addressed through dedicated research, stakeholder collaboration, and practical pilot projects.

Keywords: seagrass-based insulation materials; hygrothermal building performance; tropical climate construction; sustainable architectural design; thermal envelope optimization; building energy simulation; bio-based insulation systems; low-emission construction materials; passive cooling design strategies; climate-adaptive architecture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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