How To Fight the Cost of Cooling
It is a classic vicious cycle: as global warming increases, so does the use of air conditioning. This increases energy consumption, which in turn fuels global warming. Insulating the exterior of buildings is a well-established solution to this problem – external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) can save around 59% of the energy needed for cooling, according to a model house study conducted by WACKER.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), building operations account for 30% of global final energy consumption and 26% of global energy-related emissions. A large part of this is caused by heating and cooling. With global warming increasing, the effort for cooling will rise. We are already seeing the use of air conditioning grow. This increases energy consumption, which in turn fuels global warming. One proven way out of this vicious cycle is to insulate the exterior of buildings.
Even though comfort is a subjective term, people generally feel most comfortable at an indoor temperature of around 20 °C. To maintain this comfortable indoor temperature, the number of air conditioners keeps increasing as global warming continues.
ETICS Save up to 59% of Cooling Energy
External thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS), sometimes also called EIFS, are proven solutions for insulating building envelopes. Since the 1950s, these have been mainly used in cold climates to reduce heating energy, and our polymeric binders have played an essential role in the functionality of the mortars used between the layers of an ETICS.
Our model house study in Dubai, supervised by Dubai Central Laboratories, has now shown clear advantages in hot climates, too. In our test, ETICS saved around 59% of the energy needed for cooling.
ETICS: Insulation with Many Advantages
In cold climates, up to 40% of the total heat in a house is known to escape through the exterior walls, depending on the construction. Exterior wall insulation is considered to be the most effective technology for protecting buildings against continual ambient fluctuations. ETICS have been developed and improved since the middle of the last century and are now a reliable solution with many advantages. The typical benefits created by an ETICS could also be observed in the Dubai model house study. More information on the study can be found here.
Environmental Benefits
Over their life cycle, ETICS reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions far more than is needed for their production, construction and recycling. The carbon payback period of typical ETICS is less than two years. (source: https://www.ea-etics.com/etics/benefits).
In the Dubai study we found a reduction of 59% both in energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Better Indoor Climate
We spend over 90% of our lives inside buildings. ETICS reduces the impact of summer heat waves. In the Dubai study, air conditioners in both houses were preset to an interior air temperature of 23 °C. In the insulated house, the temperature remained more constant, creating a pleasant living environment. The temperature inside the non-insulated house repeatedly increased to 28 °C.
Noise Reduction
ETICS can reduce the noise transmission from outside that is caused by traffic, etc. In the model house test, insulation with ETICS was shown to reduce noise from 70 dB to 57 dB. That may not seem like a lot at first glance, but the drop is significant.
A decibel level of 55 dB corresponds to moderate sounds, like the sound of a normal conversation or that of music playing in the background, i.e., on the low end of the decibel scale. The maximum level of noise you should be exposed to during a normal day is 70 dB. In terms of intensity, 70 dB is perceived to be 31.6 times louder than 55 dB.
Value Upgrade
Energy-inefficient buildings suffer from decreasing value. ETICS preserves and can even increase property values. Additionally, as ETICS are applied on the outside, they do not reduce the usable and rentable floor space.
Durability
ETICS have demonstrated their robustness and durability in practice. When installed and maintained correctly, their life cycle is anticipated to match that of the building. ETICS-on-ETICS application makes it possible to upgrade previously insulated facades to meet the needs of the future.
For more information on the installation of ETICS, please view our video on professional renovation with ETICS.
Better Building Physics
Concrete frame structures create thermal bridges, which allow high temperatures to heat up the interior space. These thermal bridges can only be avoided with a continuous insulation system like ETICS. See the difference here:
What Makes a Good ETICS?
We have seen that correct installation is an important factor for the durability of ETICS. Another is the quality of the individual elements and how they interact. While the insulation board is the heart of the system, this board would be of no or only temporary use without the right adhesive, a suitable base coat and fiber mesh or an appropriate top coat. Our VINNAPAS® polymer powders and dispersions are essential components of these elements.
The Alternative: Thermal Insulation Render (TIR)
Thermal insulation render (TIR) is a good alternative for insulating external walls. TIR is a special mineral-bound render/plaster with lightweight components having low thermal conductivity. These could be expanded polystyrene (EPS), expanded glass or clay based on perlite, vermiculite, foam glass, etc.
More Questions? Talk to Our Experts!
We have been among the first to develop mortars for ETICS and to test them as systems in climatic chambers, etc. This has made us experts in the solutions that work best in different climate zones. Thanks to this experience, we were also appointed to the CEN working group as experts and are contributing to the formulation of the new EN 17237.
- More information on the new EN 17237 can be found here.
- Please feel free to contact us if you have questions regarding technical details, certification or about ETICS in general. Together, we can make a difference in the reduction of CO2 emissions.
- For more information on ETICS in hot climates, download our free brochure. Please open the interactive PDF using Adobe Acrobat Reader or a similar PDF reader software to enjoy the full functionality. When viewing it in a browser, we kindly ask that you download it first.
