Evaluating Mycelium as an insulation material: A comparative study on thermal performance, comfort, and energy...

Area of Science:

• Building Science
• Sustainable Materials
• Thermal Engineering

Background:

• The building sector's significant carbon footprint necessitates sustainable material alternatives.
• Mycelium, a natural material, is explored as a replacement for conventional insulation like rock wool and XPS.
• Evaluating mycelium's thermal performance is crucial for its adoption in green building practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess mycelium insulation's thermal performance in a residential building in New Cairo, Egypt.
• To compare mycelium's effectiveness against traditional insulation materials (XPS, rock wool) using simulations.
• To analyze energy consumption, thermal comfort (U-values, discomfort hours, PPD-PMV), and environmental impact.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Design-Builder software integrated with EnergyPlus for thermal simulations.
• Compared mycelium insulation with XPS and rock wool in a simulated residential setting in Janna Compound, New Cairo.
• Analyzed key performance indicators including U-values, discomfort hours, Predicted Mean Vote (PMV), Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfaction (PPD%), and energy consumption.

Main Results:

• Mycelium insulation demonstrated comparable U-values to XPS (0.323).
• Achieved a 16.9% reduction in discomfort hours and a 15.8% energy reduction compared to the baseline.
• Simulation results indicate mycelium's insulation performance is on par with XPS.

Conclusions:

• Mycelium insulation is a viable, sustainable alternative to conventional materials like XPS.
• It offers comparable thermal performance with significant environmental benefits, including biodegradability and a lower carbon footprint.
• The findings support integrating mycelium into Egypt's sustainable housing initiatives for energy-efficient urban development.