Regarding several new criteria for the energy-efficient envelope’s potential assessment

Abstract

This paper introduces a set of new criteria for assessing the energy-efficiency potential of multilayered building envelopes, focusing on physically measurable aspects of dynamic thermal performance and LCA parameters. Based on EN ISO 13786:2023, the study considers thermal transmittance (U-value), internal areal heat capacity (k1), and decrement factor (f) as thermal performance parameters, along with assembly mass (m) and embodied energy (EE) as additional LCA objective indicators. Five wall assemblies common in the Ukrainian market - hempcrete, AAC + Rockwool, Porotherm brickwork + Rockwool, wood-chip cement-bonded blocks (Woodcrete) and ICF systems were evaluated through numerical modelling and comparative analysis. To eliminate subjectivity in criteria weighting, three new interconnected criteria were proposed: Dynamic Thermal Performance Efficiency per mass (DTPEm), per embodied energy (DTPEEE), and per both (DTPEm&EE). Results indicate that AAC + Rockwool (Wall B) consistently ranks as the most efficient assembly according to the DTPEm&EE criteria. At the same time, Wall E (ICF) aligns with the recommended thermal inertia ranges but exhibits the highest embodied energy, resulting in the lowest DTPEm&EE. The study highlights the complexity of MCDA in envelope design and provides physically grounded criteria that can support more objective predesign decision-making.