Page 9 - Soluções sustentáveis de Isolamento para Edifícios NZEB

Introduction

This manual is part of the LIFE ReNaturalNZEB project - Recycled and Natural
Materials and Products to develop Nearly Zero Energy Buildings with low car-
bon footprint (LIFE17 ENV/ES/000329).

The concept of nZEB, building “nearly zero energy”, i.e. with a very high en-
ergy performance, as indicated in the Energy Performance of Buildings Di-
rective (EPBD) (EU, 2010), has become a critical and important requirement.
a challenge in the construction sector, especially for architects and designers
(Aelenei et al., 2022). Firstly, it is necessary to increase the energy efficiency
of buildings, using passive solutions, and only then to cover the energy needs
that still exist through energy generation.

According to the definition, the energy needs should be covered to a large ex-
tent by energy from renewable sources, including sources produced on-site or
nearby (EU, 2010).

Therefore, it is very important to adopt passive solutions and strategies, such
as considering thermal insulation in the building’s surroundings, since thermal
insulation limits heat losses and exchanges between the outside and the inside
of the building, reducing energy consumption and of CO emissions, contribut-
2
ing to energy efficiency and home comfort.

The main objective of the LIFE ReNaturalNZEB project is the use of natural
materials and products with a low carbon footprint. In this context, the manual
aims to characterize the thermal insulation available on the market and provide
guidelines for choosing the most sustainable solutions, with an emphasis on
the use of materials and natural products with a low carbon footprint. its use
by technicians from both countries.

It is divided into 4 chapters:
• Thermal Insulation - importance and basic concepts (first chapter);
• Types and Application of Thermal Insulators (second chapter);
• Thermal Insulation in the Energy Rehabilitation of Buildings (third chapter);
• Legislative and Regulatory Framework in Portugal and Spain (fourth chapter).

It should be noted that throughout the text there are several boxes with a more
detailed explanation about certain materials or products, or labels or impor-
tant points that should be underlined.