The construction industry faces a significant challenge in addressing both the housing crisis and climate change. To mitigate this challenge, there has been a push toward the incorporation of industrialization in the construction process to improve product quality, reduce execution times, and lower production costs. However, it is also crucial to implement materials with sustainable characteristics to decrease the environmental impact of housing. In light of this, the present study analyzes the environmental and economic impacts through the development(design) of a modular construction system using materials with low environmental impact. Specifically, the structural components of the system are constructed using plywood boards, thermal insulation is provided by wheat straw, and the interior finish is made of clay plaster. The Skylark 250 model served as the chassis for the structure, with the wheat straw being applied through a blowing process and the clay plaster applied manually. Thermal transmittance, energy demand, environmental impact, and economic analysis were all evaluated for this solution. The study results yielded a modular housing solution with an energy demand of 55 (kWh/m²/year), which, when paired with photovoltaic panels, meets the Net Zero challenge. In terms of construction time, the proposed system requires 44% less time than traditional construction methods and is 29% less expensive economically, making it an attractive option for the housing market.

Developing environmentally friendly building materials with low environmental impacts is receiving more attention nowadays to face the global challenges of climate change; building insulation materials made from agricultural waste can be used for their low environmental impact and to generate responsible supplies that utilize natural resources adequately. The study aims to assess a panel made from rice husk using the pulping method. An experimental design established the proportion of rice husk, the percentage of additive (NaOH concentration), boiling time and blending time. Taguchi’s method was applied to investigate the effect on density and thermal conductivity; the final panel with optimum conditions was morphologically analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM); the thermal behavior was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA); fire reaction and smoldering behavior were analyzed; and characterization in water absorption and acoustic absorption performances were established. The results show thermal conductivity values between 0.037 and 0.042 W/mK, a smoldering velocity of 3.40 mm/min, and a good acoustic absorption coefficient in octave frequency bands between 125 Hz and 4 kHz greater than 0.7. These characteristics are competitive with other insulating bio-based materials available on the market. This study employed chemicals utilized by other biomaterials for the pulping process and in flame retardants. However, it is important to investigate natural treatments or those with a diminished environmental impact.

Houses in the operational stage consume around 40% of the world’s energy, and most of it is consumed by air conditioning. This generates several problems, especially in cities, where biomass combustion is the most widely used form of heating. For this reason, environmental regulation works in parallel with energy efficiency, where efficient and low-impact thermal insulating materials are key to reduce the energy demand and fuel consumption to generate comfort in dwellings. This work considers the valorization of wheat straw from the Araucanía region of Chile, to develop a prototype for a thermal insulating material applied through the blowing technique. The results show the insulation potential of the fiber, which, in post-chopping conditions and at an average density of 80 [kg/m³], has thermal conductivity of 0.034 [W/mK]. This value is much better than that of glass wool and other inorganic materials sold in the Chilean market. In addition, the developed material can be incorporated into partitions using the blowing technique, improving the execution time for the thermal insulation section. Finally, it is indicated that a good option to install a processing plant is in the central valley of the region, specifically in the communes of Victoria and Perquenco.

Energy consumption in the residential sector and air pollution are relevant topics for the global population. One of the causes, especially in cold climate cities, is that buildings maintain a high energy consumption for heating and cooling, primarily using low-efficiency biomass combustion for heating, which releases a significant amount of particulate matter into the environment. In this context, thermal insulation materials play a crucial role in reducing the energy demand of buildings, requiring advancements in the sustainable development of such materials within the context of climate change. This study carried out an evaluation of two algae species found along the Chilean coasts, with the aim of characterizing them and creating a prototype of a sustainable material. Their physicochemical properties were analyzed, and the results demonstrate that the algae exhibit excellent thermal insulation properties, with an average thermal conductivity of 0.036 [W/mK]. This result is comparable to expanded polystyrene (EPS), a widely used material in the Chilean and global markets, which has an average thermal conductivity value of 0.038 [W/mK]. Additionally, the algae show a good thermal stability, and their morphology contributes to the development of a bulk material, as they possess a porous structure with air chambers between the fibers.

El sillar, material de construcción para muros y cubiertas de uso común en Arequipa (Perú), ha perdido vigencia debido, entre otras cosas, al desconocimiento de su desempeño térmico. Por ello, el objetivo de la presente investigación fue evaluar el desempeño térmico de este material en comparación con el adobe, el ladrillo de arcilla y la bloqueta de concreto. La metodología consistió en un monitoreo experimental de seis módulos en verano y ocho en invierno, en modelos de campo con análisis de causa-efecto por medio de simulación. Comparando la temperatura del aire exterior e interior con la de confort, se determinó qué material tiene mejor desempeño térmico en temporadas de verano e invierno. Con el software DesignBuilder V4.7, se simularon térmicamente los módulos, se correlacionaron los resultados para su validación y se obtuvieron los consumos energéticos. Los resultados de campo arrojaron que el sillar, en su colocación en soga y canto, es el de mejor desempeño térmico, mientras que la bloqueta de concreto es el más ineficiente.

The construction sector plays a key role in climate change due to its high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Developing environmentally friendly building materials with low environmental impact is essential to improving energy efficiency. Insulation derived from agricultural waste is particularly promising due to its low ecological footprint, responsible resources use, and potential for integration into various construction systems. This study evaluates the potential of rice husk fiber as a thermal insulating material applied through the blowing technique in the Skylark 250 modular system. Rice husk fiber was morphologically and thermally characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while its thermal behavior was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) alongside a fire behavior assessment. Additionally, energy simulations were conducted to compare the thermal performance of rice husk fiber with other insulating materials when integrated into a building’s thermal envelope. The results showed an average thermal conductivity of 0.040 W/mK, a U-value of 0.17 W/m²K, and a heating demand of 9.56 kWh/m²-year when applied to the modular system. The material also exhibited good fire resistance, with a smoldering velocity of 3.40 mm/min. These findings highlight rice husk fiber’s potential as a sustainable insulation material for modular construction, contributing to energy efficiency and climate change mitigation.