Life cycle assessment of wooden constructions with bio-based insulation
- Author
- Anke Blommaert (UGent) , Nathan Van Den Bossche (UGent) and Marijke Steeman (UGent)
- Organization
- Abstract
- The imperative shift towards a sustainable society necessitates the adaptation of renewable materials and a concurrent reduction in environmental impacts. Therefore, the integration of wooden structures with bio-based insulation materials presents a promising avenue. The aim of this study is twofold: the first objective is to gain a better understanding of timber frame construction and the environmental impact of its different components to put together a low-impact wall assembly. The second objective is to compare this optimized timber frame wall to cross-laminated timber and masonry construction with similar properties by assessing the environmental impact of the different life cycle stages, the contribution of the different materials in the assembly and its associated carbon impact. Results show that although the environmental impact of bio-based insulation materials themselves (cellulose and wood wool) are lower than stone wool, the integration of these materials in cross-laminated timber and masonry construction could lead to a higher environmental impact due the fact that these bio-based insulation are in need of an additional structure to be kept into place. When focusing on the climate change indicator, cross-laminated timber structures seem to be the best option. However, when assessing all impact indicators timber frame construction has a lower environmental impact than their cross-laminated timber and masonry counterparts.
- Keywords
- Timber frame construction, Cross-laminated timber, Bio-based insulation, Environmental impact
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Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-01JQ4DMSY8BDZMK7B14P5EK9EV
- MLA
- Blommaert, Anke, et al. “Life Cycle Assessment of Wooden Constructions with Bio-Based Insulation.” MULTIPHYSICS AND MULTISCALE BUILDING PHYSICS, IBPC 2024, VOL 4, edited by Umberto Berardi, vol. 555, Springer, 2025, pp. 479–84, doi:10.1007/978-981-97-8317-5_70.
- APA
- Blommaert, A., Van Den Bossche, N., & Steeman, M. (2025). Life cycle assessment of wooden constructions with bio-based insulation. In U. Berardi (Ed.), MULTIPHYSICS AND MULTISCALE BUILDING PHYSICS, IBPC 2024, VOL 4 (Vol. 555, pp. 479–484). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-8317-5_70
- Chicago author-date
- Blommaert, Anke, Nathan Van Den Bossche, and Marijke Steeman. 2025. “Life Cycle Assessment of Wooden Constructions with Bio-Based Insulation.” In MULTIPHYSICS AND MULTISCALE BUILDING PHYSICS, IBPC 2024, VOL 4, edited by Umberto Berardi, 555:479–84. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-8317-5_70.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Blommaert, Anke, Nathan Van Den Bossche, and Marijke Steeman. 2025. “Life Cycle Assessment of Wooden Constructions with Bio-Based Insulation.” In MULTIPHYSICS AND MULTISCALE BUILDING PHYSICS, IBPC 2024, VOL 4, ed by. Umberto Berardi, 555:479–484. Springer. doi:10.1007/978-981-97-8317-5_70.
- Vancouver
- 1.Blommaert A, Van Den Bossche N, Steeman M. Life cycle assessment of wooden constructions with bio-based insulation. In: Berardi U, editor. MULTIPHYSICS AND MULTISCALE BUILDING PHYSICS, IBPC 2024, VOL 4. Springer; 2025. p. 479–84.
- IEEE
- [1]A. Blommaert, N. Van Den Bossche, and M. Steeman, “Life cycle assessment of wooden constructions with bio-based insulation,” in MULTIPHYSICS AND MULTISCALE BUILDING PHYSICS, IBPC 2024, VOL 4, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2025, vol. 555, pp. 479–484.
@inproceedings{01JQ4DMSY8BDZMK7B14P5EK9EV,
abstract = {{The imperative shift towards a sustainable society necessitates the adaptation of renewable materials and a concurrent reduction in environmental impacts. Therefore, the integration of wooden structures with bio-based insulation materials presents a promising avenue. The aim of this study is twofold: the first objective is to gain a better understanding of timber frame construction and the environmental impact of its different components to put together a low-impact wall assembly. The second objective is to compare this optimized timber frame wall to cross-laminated timber and masonry construction with similar properties by assessing the environmental impact of the different life cycle stages, the contribution of the different materials in the assembly and its associated carbon impact. Results show that although the environmental impact of bio-based insulation materials themselves (cellulose and wood wool) are lower than stone wool, the integration of these materials in cross-laminated timber and masonry construction could lead to a higher environmental impact due the fact that these bio-based insulation are in need of an additional structure to be kept into place. When focusing on the climate change indicator, cross-laminated timber structures seem to be the best option. However, when assessing all impact indicators timber frame construction has a lower environmental impact than their cross-laminated timber and masonry counterparts.}},
author = {{Blommaert, Anke and Van Den Bossche, Nathan and Steeman, Marijke}},
booktitle = {{MULTIPHYSICS AND MULTISCALE BUILDING PHYSICS, IBPC 2024, VOL 4}},
editor = {{Berardi, Umberto}},
isbn = {{9789819783168}},
issn = {{2366-2557}},
keywords = {{Timber frame construction,Cross-laminated timber,Bio-based insulation,Environmental impact}},
language = {{eng}},
location = {{Toronto, Ontario, Canada}},
pages = {{479--484}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
title = {{Life cycle assessment of wooden constructions with bio-based insulation}},
url = {{http://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-8317-5_70}},
volume = {{555}},
year = {{2025}},
}
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