Innovative construction material based on gypsum that can reduce energy consumption up to 40%
Energy consumption reduction in buildings is necessary (40% of global consumption), so researchers from the Arquitecture School of the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) have developed a new construction material based on gypsum boards that can reduce energy consumption up to 40% in buildings and also contribute to reduce CO2 emissions. This solution, experimentally tested and patented by UPM, takes advantage of the benefits and accesibility of gypsum as a base. Spain is an European and global leader in manufacturing and exportation of this material. The business oportunity is focused on the energy efficiency scope applied to construction: it is estimated that every invested dollar implies $2 in energy savings.
The proposed solution enables the creation of a gypsum board with termal energy storage capacity. Thanks to the addition of phase change materials, this new constructive element can storage, in 1,5cm of thickness, 5 times the thermal energy that can be stored in a regular board with the same thickness.
The PCMs are materials which store or release termal energy as latent heat, achiving the same effect as a thick and heavy wall with a great thermal inertia. The integration of PCMs made of gypsum oriented to construction is not new, but this solution has 45% of these materials compared to the 26% for currently commercial products.
“This patented solution is able to maintain the premises temperature in the confort range (20ºC-30ºC) without air conditioning”
“Spain leads the gypsum manufacturing and exportation industry, which is the material base of this solution”
GreenGypsum contact
Javier Neila, Alfonso García Santos; Alicia Oliver.
e: {fjavier.neila; alfonso.garciasantos}@upm.es; oliver_alice@yahoo.es
ETS Arquitectura
UPM contact
Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship Area
Centre of Support for Technological Innovation – UPM
e: innovacion.tecnologica@upm.es