Totora used as thermal insulation: properties and potential

Abstract

An important part of the environmental impact generated by human activity is the extraction and use of construction materials [Ad- hoc industrial advisory group 2009]; confronting this issue creates the need to develop new alternatives and to experience change towards sustainable construction. The use of natural resources gives significant opportunity to reduce the negative effects of the material production, especially in petroleum derivate products. These effects being the emission of greenhouse gasses (CO2), the consumption of energy and the emission of toxic substances in the environment, among others. [CCEIM 2010]. A problem that occurs across the Andean high zone in Peru (3,000 to 4,500 m.s.n.m) is the high mortality rate from respiratory diseases due to extreme temperature variations every year; however the population does not die precisely because of the direct impact of extreme weather conditions (snow, hail or frost), but mainly because of the conditions of thermal comfort inside the houses. This project aims to address the development of a new thermal insulator from Totora (Schoenoplectus tatora), an aquatic plant present in the Titicaca Lake - Perú. This has been analysed for its thermal behaviour and various tests have been made which revealed its characteristics and its potential for the use in buildings. In this project two different kinds of panels have been elaborated, using the entire reed and the crushed reed. The values obtained in the tests of thermic conductivity resulted between (λ): 0,046 a 0,058 W/mK) which proof its insulating potential. Furthermore, the material shows other advantages: the raw material used is renewable and the necessary resources for its fabrication come from natural origin. All this indicates that this insulation can be an efficient alternative and is of low environmental impact. This material could be used to improve the conditions of thermal comfort inside the houses around the Andean high zone in Peru, where they are faced with extreme variations of temperature.