Cost analysis of insulation materials used to increase energy performance in buildings with Net Present Value method

Abstract

Today, producing solutions for the effective and efficient use of energy resources is among the priority areas in almost every sector. In terms of energy consumption, each solution developed in the building sector has a great impact on reducing total energy consumption. In this study, different types of insulation materials used in walls and roof were investigated in terms of cost-effectiveness in order to improve the energy performance of a building located in the 1st degree day zone in Turkey. Four commonly preferred insulation materials for wall and roof were tested at specific thicknesses. Scenarios for the specified thicknesses were simulated with the Design Builder simulation program and energy consumption values were determined. The initial investment costs of each alternative were calculated and energy savings were determined. The initial investment costs and energy savings were evaluated according to the Net Present Value method and the priority ranking of each alternative was revealed. According to the results obtained, when the materials used in the study are compared; it is determined that the material with the highest net present value for the roof is glass wool and the material with the highest net present value for the wall is stone wool.