On the development of self-controlled bio-based panels for building's thermal management

EU is responsible for an annual generation of approximated 700 Mt of bio-based waste mass, of which only a small fraction is treated or exploited. At the same time, the demand for domestic energy consumption has never been greater. In the quest to save energy and reduce the effect of global warming, built environment research looks into the exploitation of bio-based by-products to tackle residential buildings' thermal efficiency. Recycled and recyclable bio-based materials are capable of natural moisture-management, maintaining indoor air quality and at the same time contributing to residential energy performance. Due to their hygroscopic properties, bio-based materials efficiently absorb and desorb moisture to their local surrounding environment. Within the framework of this paper, we present the preliminary work towards the development of a self-controlled bio-based panel system, for efficient moisture management. The proposed 'green' panels consist of bio-based fibres reinforcing bio-based matrices, to maximise hygrothermal behavior and through that feed the building management system. A comparison with the existing bio-based solutions is made in terms of moisture buffering behaviour and thermal conductivity. A review of the experimental methods to characterise dynamic water absorption and hygrothermal behavior is provided together with an analysis of the global warming potential and non-renewable energy fraction.