Optimization of PVC Foam Insulation Thickness in Container Housing Based on Life Cycle Energy Analysis (LCEA)

Abstract

This study aims to determine the optimum thickness of PVC foam insulation for the walls of a 20-feet container house in a tropical humid climate based on Life Cycle Energy Analysis (LCEA), which integrates the embodied energy of the insulation material with the operational energy of the air-conditioning system. A quantitative approach was employed through field measurements, simulation validation, and scenario analysis. Two container houses with different insulation configurations were compared by measuring indoor air temperature, relative humidity, wall surface temperature, air-conditioning energy consumption, and outdoor weather conditions. The measured data were used to validate an EnergyPlus simulation model, which was subsequently applied to evaluate PVC foam insulation thicknesses of 10 mm, 18 mm, and 30 mm while keeping all other building parameters constant. The results indicate that the addition of exterior PVC foam insulation significantly improved the thermal performance of the container house and reduced the energy consumption of the air-conditioning system. Based on the 10-year LCEA prediction, the 30 mm PVC foam insulation achieved the lowest Life Cycle Energy (LCE) of 76,971.02 MJ, making it the optimum insulation thickness under the conditions investigated in this study.