The need for the development of new, advanced building materials increases every year, especially due to the necessary diminution of energy performance for building structures and for building production itself (including the production of building materials). Along with the energy performance problems in construction, the issue of CO₂ emission associated with building and the production of building materials is also important. In the field of advanced thermal insulation materials, vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) give the best results. However, their high-energy performance and material consumption present a problem. This work represents an initial part of the development of alternative insulators, based on agricultural and textile industry waste usable in the production of VIP. This article recapitulates basic knowledge regarding key thermal insulation properties of developed insulators and their fire reactions, which impact possible usage in building structures.

This study is devoted to the possibility of using advanced insulation materials, such as Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIP), in the insulation and reconstruction of buildings, in connection with the green elements that are installed on the facade in the case of the use of external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS). The use of VIP as part of the insulation system will result in a significant reduction in the required thickness of the insulation layer. In turn, the reduced overall thickness of the system will allow for easier direct anchoring of the elements of the green facade through the insulating layer to the base of the structure. The research carried out proves that, by using VIP in the insulation system (with a VIP thickness of 30 mm in combination with 20 mm of extruded polystyrene XPS), the thermal insulation properties can be significantly improved and, thus, the thickness of the insulation system can be reduced to 1/3 of the thickness of conventional insulation (while achieving the same thermal resistance), thereby enabling the anchoring of green elements on the surface of such an insulation system.

Straw has been used as a building material since time immemorial and has been considered as a waste product from the agricultural sector, usually used for feed, bedding, or fertilization. Nowadays, the construction industry strives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and is focusing on renewable materials; hence, straw seems to be an attractive, low-energy option. Straw bales or blown insulation are common uses, with limited detailed knowledge regarding the properties of different straw types. Straw is made up of the dry stems of crops. Straw’s chemical composition will differ with different crops and can have a great impact on its effectiveness. As a renewable material, straw also has the potential to be used in buildings, enhancing thermal insulation and reducing environmental impacts. This study considers four kinds of straw: barley, oats, oilseed rape, and triticale, regarding their possible usage in insulation materials. The thermal conductivity, bulk density, and dust generation of each type were tested in the laboratory. Among them, the best performance was shown by the barley straw treated with mechanical pulping using a knife mill at 4000 rpm for 60 s, which showed the lowest bulk density and thermal conductivity and generated the least dust. It is thus proven to be an environmental insulation material with significant implications for sustainable construction and energy-efficient building design, further helping in maintaining environmental sustainability in building construction.

This paper investigates the potential use of natural materials and elements for stabilizing indoor humidity levels, focusing on creating healthier living environments in buildings. Unstable indoor microclimates, particularly extreme humidity levels, can negatively affect human health by causing issues such as condensation, mold growth, or dry mucous membranes. In this work, we explore how sorptive materials can maintain indoor humidity within the optimal range of 40–50%. The aim is to identify optimal solutions for moisture control using passive elements, such as unfired ceramic components, which demonstrate high sorption activity within the 35–55% relative humidity range. These elements can effectively absorb moisture from, or release it back into, the indoor environment as needed. Five clay types based on different clay minerals were analyzed in the research in order to assess how their structures influence moisture adsorption behavior. These elements can be combined with green/active elements and standard measures, such as ventilation or targeted room air exchange, to improve indoor humidity regulation. The evaluation of the results so far indicates that the use of clay-based elements in the interior offers a sustainable and natural approach to maintaining optimal indoor microclimate conditions. The slab elements from all 5 clay formulations investigated effectively support indoor humidity stabilization.

The ever-increasing requirements in the field of energy efficiency of buildings imply the necessity of using an ever-increasing amount of insulation in building structures. However, together with the requirements of the new EPBD directive EU/2024/1275, it is also necessary to monitor the carbon footprint of individual materials incorporated into the building structure. The aim of the research work is to substitute primary raw materials used for the production of vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) with secondary cellulose fibers produced by recycling newsprint. Five recipes were proposed to verify the substitution effect for individual key raw materials of core insulation for VIPs. Key (primarily thermal insulation) properties were determined on laboratory-produced samples, and it was found that the proposed hybrid core insulations with secondary cellulose fibers from recycled newsprint exhibit very favorable properties and could be used for the production of VIPs used in building structures.