Energy and environmental impact analysis of optimum insulation thickness of buildings in different degree days regions

According to TS 825, optimum insulation thicknesses for Antalya, Diyarbakır, Konya and Kars provinces with four different degree day values were determined. In the calculations,the situations were compared when stone wool, glass wool, XPS and EPS were used as insulation materials, and natural gas, coal and fuel oil were used as fuels. In case of external wall insulation, economic payback periods and environmental impact values were calculated. In the economic and life cycle assessment analyses, it was determined that among the fuel types used in heating in buildings, natural gas, fuel oil and coal, the most suitable fuel type for Antalya, Diyarbakır, Konya and Kars provinces would be natural gas and the most suitable insulation material would be stone wool for Antalya province, and stone wool or glass wool for Diyarbakır, Konya and Kars provinces. According to the use of natural gas as fuel and glass wool as insulation material, the optimum insulation thickness for Antalya, Diyarbakır, Konya and Kars provinces were determined as 0.049, 0.076, 0.09 and 0.12 m, and the payback periods were determined as 2.68, 1.9, 1.65 and 1.27 years, respectively. For the same conditions, avoidable environmental impact values were 11.24, 24.01, 33.76 and 59.41 kgCO2 and global warming potential values were 3.43, 5.6, 6.28 and 8.83 kgCO2. Keywords: Heating degree-days; Optimal insulation thickness; Life cycle assessment