Polyiso: The Product for Building Sustainability

1. Polyiso: The Product for Building Sustainability
Increased levels of polyisocyanurate (polyiso) insulation save energy and prevent Global Warming 12501 NW 38th Ave.
Potential (GWP) emissions during polyiso use that far outweigh energy and GWP emissions associated Miami, FL 33054
with making, transporting, installing and managing polyiso at end-of-life. (305) 921-0100
35 Energy Saved
Electric Power Plants: 30
Embodied Energy
Whole Building Energy Analysis (WBEA)
US power grid mix includes coal, natural gas, fuel oil,
25
nuclear energy, hydropower, biomass, wind, geothermal
energy, etc. 3.2 KWh of “source” energy are needed for 20
1 KWh of electricity delivered to the “site”.
Million MJ
Building Envelope HVAC
15
Natural Gas: 10
Heat & Mass Balance and
Building Systems Simulations
Includes all activities required to extract, produce Other Equipment
and deliver thermal energy to customers. 1.16 Btu of 5 Lighting
“source” energy are needed for 1 Btu of gas delivered
to the “site”. 0 Human Activity
-5
R20 vs R15 R30 vs R15
Energy Savings in Use vs
Embodied Energy in Polyiso
2.5 GWP Prevented
Polyisocyanurate Foam Insulation
GWP f rom Making, Installing, etc.
Steel Deck
ASHRAE 90.1 2004
ASHRAE 90.1-2004 2
Compliant Wall Minimum Standard
Polyiso 2.5” Polyiso R-15.3
1.5
Million kg CO 2 - Equiv.
1
ASHRAE 90.1-2007
Minimum Standard
3.3” Polyiso R-20.4 0.5
0
Beyond the Code R20 vs R15 R30 VS R15
5” Polyiso R-30.6 -0.5
2 layers of 2.5”
GWP Prevented in Use vs GWP from
All Other Life Cycle Phases
Example for building in Chicago, IL
Functional Unit: Polyiso insulation with a specified minimum thermal resistance
for a one-story 125,000 ft 2 retail building roof over a 30-year insulation life.
Polyiso Installation:
Polyiso buns are cut into sheets or blocks for
building insulation applications where lami-
nate may be applied, or fabricated into Polyiso Use:
shapes for piping insulation. The product is
then shipped to the end-user and installed.
Rigorous Whole Building Energy Analysis based on the US DOE EnergyPlus simulation program was applied to estimate energy
Raw Material Manufacture: Polyiso savings and GWP emissions prevented during the use phase. Integrated whole building simulation is essential for modeling realistic
Manufacturing: energy consumption. ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G procedures were followed to provide credible data on energy consumption comparisons.
Includes processing of raw materials for making
chemicals such as diphenylmethane diisocyanate
Raw Material Extraction and Refining: (MDI), polyester polyol, pentane blowing agent,
Major chemical raw materials (MDI, polyester
polyol) are mixed with additives and blowing
Involves extraction of crude oil and natural gas, mining of and additives such as flame retardants and agents. The chemical mix reacts as it travels
Energy savings from increasing insulation from R-15.3 to R-20.4 amount to 15 million MJ, with embodied energy being only 5%
coal, cultivation of crops, refining of crude oil into catalysts/surfactants. on a belt through an environmentally con- compared to the energy saved. Energy savings from increasing insulation from R-15.3 to R-30.6 total 31 million MJ, while the
trolled tunnel, free-rising into continuous
benzene, pentane, diesel, propane, etc.
Recycled materials are used for manufacturing bunstock.
embodied energy for additional insulation is only 7% compared to the energy saved.
facer and some chemicals such as polyester polyol.
Global Warming Potential (GWP) emissions prevented in the use phase by increasing insulation from R-15.3 to R-20.4 are nearly
1 million kg CO2-equivalent, while GWP emissions generated from all other life cycle phases are about 4% compared to GWP
Embodied Energy & GWP: emissions prevented. GWP emissions prevented in the use phase by increasing insulation from R-15.3 to R-30.6 total 2.1 million kg End-of-life (EOL):
Based on current polyiso manufacturing and use for commercial roofing in North America, life cycle inventory CO2-equivalent, while the GWP emissions contributed from all other phases are only 6% compared to GWP emissions prevented. Involves transportation to and
methods from ISO 14040 were used to estimate “cradle to end-of-life” energy and GWP emissions. disposal of insulation in a local
solid waste landfill.
up to 365 days = 1 year 1 0 , 9 5 0 d a y s = 3 0 y e a r s 30 days = 1 month