MULTI-CRITERIA EFFICIENCY EVALUATION OF BIO-BASED WALL THERMAL INSULATION MATERIALS FOR ZERO-EMISSION PUBLIC BUILDINGS USING THE ARAS METHOD

Abstract

This research evaluates bio-based wall thermal insulation materials for zero-emission public buildings by applying the additive ratio assessment (ARAS) method, which provides a systematic framework for ranking alternatives based on multiple criteria, thereby supporting sustainable building design decisions. The assessment of four bio-based thermal insulation materials (compressed straw bale; hemp fiber; flax (linen) fiber and wood fiber insulation) was conducted using six selected criteria: average material price in 2025-3Q, €/m²; average insulation material thermal conductivity, W/m·K; reference service life, years; global warming potential (GWP-fossil in A1-A3 stages), kg CO2eq/ m²; the fire resistance class of the material, points; required insulation thickness at a wall‘s U-value of 0.12,  m. The results of the empirical research demonstrate that among the evaluated wall bio-based insulation alternatives, compressed straw bale stands out as the most effective material for zero-emission public buildings. This insulation material attained the highest relative performance index of 0.85, reflecting its superior ranking within the ARAS evaluation framework. Among the four assessed alternatives, the insulation materials based on hemp fiber and flax (linen) fiber exhibited the lowest degree of utility, scoring 0.70 and 0.66 points respectively. The performance gap between the optimal and least favorable alternatives was found to be 22.43 percent.