Journal of Cleaner Production 83 (2014) 256e262

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Journal of Cleaner Production

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The comparison of thermal insulation types of plaster with cement

plaster
Robert Dylewski a, *, Janusz Adamczyk b, 1
a
Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Econometrics, University of Zielona Go
ra, ul. Licealna 9, 65-417 Zielona Go

ra, Poland
b
ra, ul. Licealna 9, 65-417 Zielona Go
Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Zielona Go
ra, Poland

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Plaster plays an important role in buildings. First of all it becomes the protection of external walls from
Received 23 November 2013 the influence of weather conditions. In the paper it was checked whether it is beneficial to use thermal
Received in revised form insulation bims granule or EPS plaster on the external walls of the building instead of cement plaster. The
3 July 2014
ecological and economic analyses were conducted for these three kinds of plaster depending on the heat
Accepted 17 July 2014
Available online 1 August 2014
source used in the building and the parameters of a wall without a layer of plaster. The calculations were
done in Polish conditions. For the indication of the environmental impact LCA technique was used. Bims
granule and EPS plaster brings an improvement of thermal insulation properties of walls and as a
Keywords:
Thermal insulation plaster
consequence the reduction of energy consumption to heat in the thermal phase of the building usage. A
Cement plaster net ecological effect is positive, related to the use of these types of plaster, after 2e5 years, depending on
Life cycle assessment the source of heat used, whereas for cement plaster it is as long as after 30 years while using an electric
Net ecological effects energy boiler. For ecological reasons, using bims granule plaster or EPS plaster becomes far more
Energy savings beneficial than using cement plaster. For economic reasons, profits do not fully cover the cost of using the
Economic benefits plaster, even after 50 years. The biggest part of the cost is reimbursed in case when the electric energy
boiler is used as a heat source: about 22% for bims granule plaster, about 25% for EPS plaster and about 2%
for cement plaster.
© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction The energy efficiency of many existing buildings is non-acceptable.

LCA analysis is more and more commonly used in the building
sector. The examples of application of this analysis can be found in
the following studies: Erlandsson and Borg (2003) as well as Oritz
et al. (2009). According to Ardente et al. (2008) and Audenaert et al.
(2012) it can be used, among the others, for the evaluation of
building materials as well as for the selection of the most favour-
able ones for regard of the impact on the environment. In the study
by Hoxha et al. (2014) relative contribution of each building ma-
terial to the environmental impact of building is examined. In
accordance with Dylewski and Adamczyk (2011) it can also be used
for the assessment of the thermal phase of using the building
depending on the heat source used and the whole life cycle of the
building (Oritz et al., 2009). In Europe about 40e50% of final energy
is used in buildings (Perez-Lombard et al., 2008; Yan et al., 2010).
* Corresponding author. Tel.: þ48 683282821; fax: þ48 683282801.
E-mail addresses: R.Dylewski@wmie.uz.zgora.pl (R. Dylewski), J.Adamczyk@
wez.uz.zgora.pl (J. Adamczyk).
1
Tel.: þ48 683282237.
_
According to Zmijewski and Sokołowski (2010) thermal insulation
(thermal modernization) of buildings becomes a great potential for
the reduction of final energy consumption in the building industry.
The improvement of energy efficiency of the building is possible to
obtain with, among the other things, the use of thermal insulation
materials (see e.g. Dylewski and Adamczyk, 2012; Ozel, 2012). The
other way is the application of Phase Change Material (see e.g.
Caliskan et al., 2012; Menoufi et al., 2012) or active thermal in-
sulators (see e.g. Van Dessel and Foubert, 2010). Many other works
were also interested in the selection of optimum thickness of a
thermal insulation layer for economic reasons (see e.g. Bolattürk,
2008; Kaynakli, 2012).
Plaster plays a significant role in the building sector. It provides
the protection of the external walls from the influence of weather
conditions, e.g. acid rain (Panas, 2004). It also becomes the pro-
tection from the influence of internal conditions, e.g. water vapour.
It plays an aesthetic function as well (Springer and Adamczyk,
2010).
The article checks whether it is beneficial to use thermal insu-
lation plaster on the external building walls instead of cement
plaster. The efforts were made to include in the broadest context

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.07.042
0959-6526/© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
 R. Dylewski, J. Adamczyk / Journal of Cleaner Production 83 (2014) 256e262
economic and ecological aspects related to plastering. The ecolog-
ical and economic analyses were conducted for three kinds of
plaster (bims granule plaster, cement plaster and EPS plaster)
depending on the heat source used in the building and the pa-
rameters of a wall without a layer of plaster. The calculations were
done in Polish conditions. Both cement plaster and thermal insu-
lation plaster used on the external building walls brings the
improvement of the thermal insulation properties of the wall. As a
consequence the consumption of energy to heat in the phase of the
building usage is reduced. The ecological analysis was conducted
with the use of LCA, whereby not only the increase of the envi-
ronment burden/load as a result of the plaster production was
taken into consideration, but also the reduction of the environ-
mental load as an effect of smaller energy consumption in the
phase of the building use. Similarly, the economic analysis included
the costs related to applying plaster as well as the benefits con-
nected with smaller energy consumption to heat the building.
2. The properties of cement plaster, thermal insulation bims
granule plaster and EPS plaster
Cement mortar is one of the most frequently used on the Polish
construction market. Bims granule-based plaster mortar is a nov-
elty on the above mentioned market. The main ingredient of this
mortar is bims granule. It is created as a result of freezing basalt lava
mixed with volcanic gases (water vapor and carbon dioxide) and
ash. Bims granule plaster is an industrially mixed dry mortar con-
sisting of: mineral binder according to DIN EN 459 (2.8% of lime),
mineral binder according to DIN EN 197-1 (1.2% of cement) and
natural filler (96% of bims). This mortar, after being mixed with
water, is ready to use and binds hydraulically. It is plastic and du-
rable in the raw state.
Both kinds of plaster have comparable mechanical properties.
Bims granule plaster can be used to build walls with the controlled
capacity of water vapor (it has also a tendency to dry rooms)
whereas a wall with cement plaster prepared in this way loses this
attribute completely due to using a cover (acrylic or vinyl texture)
(Adamczyk and Springer, 2010). Bims granule plaster does not
absorb water due to a suitable ratio of adhesive powers to cohesive
ones. Therefore, it can be used on bases and other walls endangered
with moisture or salt (Proiso, 2010). After applying cement plaster a
grey surface is obtained and additionally a colourful texture is used.
After plastering with bims granule-based plaster mortar a snow-
white elevation is obtained, where mechanical damages do not
become an aesthetic problem (substance is uniform) (Adamczyk
and Springer, 2010) and if the colour does not suit the investor,
an additional advantage of the plaster is the lack of cost connected
with the purchase and performance of painting the elevation.
Moreover, it can also be applied inside rooms and covered with
mineral paints (lime, cement or silicate) according to DIN EN 13300
of any colour (Proiso, 2010).
Table 1
Technical parameters for bims granule plaster, cement plaster and EPS plaster.
Plaster / Bims granule plaster
Appearance and consistency White powder
Density of dry mass 334 þe10% [kg/m3]
Thermal conductivity (after 120 days) 0.068 [W/mK]
Resistance to compressing CS II 1.84 [N/mm2]
Adhesion 0.46 [N/mm2]
Moisture absorption W1 0.204 [kg/m2] min 0.5
Diffusion coefficient (after 120 days) 4.80
Consumption for 1 cm of thickness 4.0 [kg/m2]
Source: Elaborated on the basis of (Proiso, 2010; Schwepa, 2012).
257
EPS plaster is made of hydraulic binders (cement and lime) in
combination with an organic aggregate (polystyrene e EPS) and
additives to improve physical properties. It is used for plastering
almost all walls without restrictions as to the type of construction
material applied. It can be used on the internal and external side of
the wall, as well as on the old and new walls. The only restriction of
the internal use concerns the rooms with high humidity (e.g.
kitchen, bathroom). This plaster can be installed manually and
mechanically. The minimum thickness of the layer cannot be
smaller than 2 cm, while assuming that the maximum thickness of
the plaster layer for one plastering operation cannot be greater than
6 cm. However, the maximum thickness of EPS plaster that can be
applied on the external wall cannot be greater than 10 cm (two
plastering operations).
In Table 1 the parameters of bims granule plaster, cement plaster
and other thermal insulation plaster e EPS plaster were presented.
Bims granule plaster has a density equal to 334 kg/m3, almost five
times smaller than cement plaster. A lower density is attributed to
thermal insulation EPS plaster, it is about eight times lighter than
cement plaster. This advantage is significant in the context of
transport cost of these construction materials. Moreover, the
thermal conductivity for bims granule plaster amounts to 0.068 W/
mK and for EPS plaster e 0.070 W/mK. It fulfils the conditions
required for plastering heat-insulating mortars (l < 0.21 W/mK and
earthwork density in a loose state smaller than 700 kg/m3)
(Jasiczak, 2007).
The durability of cement-lime plaster is 50e80 years
(Informator, 2006). For types of plaster based on bims granule and
EPS according to norm ISO 15686-1:2000 and the coefficient
method to estimate the life period of the sub-component of the
building (ISO, 2000), the durability equals 50 years was assumed.
The durability of plaster is dependent to a large extent on the in-
clusion of a number of determinants, e.g.:
 proper project and selection of suitable plaster or plastering
system;
 corrosion of metal parts built in;
 suitable project of connections;
 penetration of rain;
 results of atmospheric pollution; etc. (PN-EN, 2009).
In order to reduce the impact of one of the above mentioned
determinants on the durability of plaster e penetration of rain e it
is advisable to use at least two undersides of the plaster.
3. The ecological analysis of plaster
Cement plaster, bims granule plaster as well as EPS plaster was
subject to LCA analysis of the life cycle of the product in order to
define the impact of the production of these materials on the
environment. According to Lo €fgren et al. (2011) LCA analysis is an
Cement plaster EPS plaster
Grey powder Grey powder
1600 þe10% [kg/m3] 200 þe10% [kg/m3]
0.930 [W/mK] 0.070 [W/mK]
CS II 5 [N/mm2] 0.5 [N/mm2]
0.5 [N/mm2] 0.08 [N/mm2]
W1 0.235 [kg/m2] W1 0.2 [kg/m2] min 0.5
10 10
about 14.7 [kg/m2] 2.27 [kg/m2]
258 R. Dylewski, J. Adamczyk / Journal of Cleaner Production 83 (2014) 256e262

important method in modern industrial environmental manage- Table 3

ment. Huttunen et al. (in press) considers that the LCA is a method The result of LCA analysis of one year thermal phase of the building usage for hard
coal, natural gas and electric boiler (Polish electricity mix).
whereby the environmental impacts of a product, process or sys-
tem are systematically assessed from raw material production to Heat source / S1 S2 S3
waste management. On the other hand Jeswani et al. (2010) focuses EUo [Pt/y] (for Uo ¼ 0.300 W/m2K) 347.5 220.9 873.0
on life-cycle assessment (LCA) and suggests that the methodology EU [Pt/y] (for U ¼ 0.276 W/m2K) 341.3 217.0 857.5
could be more useful if it were merged with other methods that EU [Pt/y] (for U ¼ 0.298 W/m2K) 347.0 220.6 871.6

have desired features currently lacking in LCA.
Nowadays LCA method is standardized and described in norms
PN-EN ISO 14040:2009 and PN-EN ISO 14044:2009. For the
assessment of the impact on the environment SimaPro programme
(SimaPro, 2009) in version 7.1. was used (established by Pre Con-
sultans B.V. company from Holland). In this programme 21
assessment methods were applied, out of which the procedure
Ecoindicator 99 was used in the article. The procedure enables to
allocate eleven impact categories to three defined categories of
damage: human health, environment quality and natural resources
consumption. The above procedure also enables to carry out
weighing and presenting the final result of LCA in Pt (value 1 Pt
corresponds to 103 of units of annual environmental load for one
inhabitant in Europe). In the first phase of LCA it is necessary to
define the borders of the system. They range from the stage of
obtaining raw materials through the stage of production to the
stage of embedding (including the consumption of energy neces-
sary for the plastering process).
As a functional unit 1 m3 of plaster was taken, since the paper
examines different thicknesses of the plaster layer in a further part
of the paper. Ultimately, the LCA results concerning the environ-
ment load are presented in relation to 1 m2 of a building wall in Pt/
m2.
The most significant material-energy transfers of LCA analysis
with reference to three considered types of plaster, for a functional
unit equal 1 m3 of plaster, include:
 bims granule plaster e 320 kg of bims granule, cement 4 kg, lime
10 kg, carriage by rail 2.6 tkm, electric energy 350 MJ;
 cement plaster e sand 992 kg, cement 496 kg, lime 93 kg, car-
riage by van 1 tkm, electric energy 5.6 MJ;
 EPS plaster e sand 57 kg, cement 104.6 kg, lime 21.4 kg, EPS
9.6 kg, carriage by van 4 tkm, electric energy 20 MJ.
Source: Own elaboration based on SimaPro programme.
The results of the LCA analysis of bims granule plaster, cement
plaster as well as EPS plaster were compared including three cat-
egories of damage and eleven impact categories (see Table 2 and
Fig. 1). The total impact is over two times bigger for cement plaster
comparing to thermal insulation types of plaster. The lowest
environment impact among considered types of plaster is attrib-
uted to EPS plaster. Among damage categories the greatest impact
on the environment takes place in the categories of raw materials
and human health for all three types of plaster (see Table 2 and
Fig. 1).
In Fig. 1 the results of LCA analysis of bims granule plaster,
cement plaster and EPS plaster were compared including eleven
impact categories. Among impact categories definitely the greatest
impact on the environment takes place in the category of fossil fuel
for all three types of plaster (see Table 2 and Fig. 1). Only in the
category of carcinogenic compounds the highest impact on the
environment appears for bims granule plaster, the lowest impact in
this category is assigned for EPS plaster.
4. The ecological effects of using plaster on the external
building walls
In this point the ecological effects resulting from the thermal
insulation of external building walls were defined, with the use of
the method proposed in the paper (Dylewski and Adamczyk, 2011).
The production of plaster causes the increase of the environment
load, but as a result of applying plaster on the external walls the
demand of the building for energy to heat is reduced and as a
consequence the energy consumption in the phase of building use
is decreased as well.

Table 2
The results of LCA analysis of three kinds of plaster, divided into damage and impact
categories.

Plaster / Bims granule Cement EPS

plaster plaster plaster

Damage Impact [Pt/m3] [Pt/m3] [Pt/m3]

categories: categories:

Human Carcinogenic 0.447 0.379 0.028

health compounds
Organic 0.000 0.004 0.004
substances
Non organic 1.629 3.020 1.034
compounds
Climate change 0.473 2.209 0.604
Radiation 0.001 0.022 0.006
Ozone hole 0.000 0.001 0.000
Ecosystem Ecotoxicity 0.037 0.239 0.054
quality Acidification/ 0.193 0.728 0.191
Eutrophication
Land use 0.101 0.599 0.096
Raw Minerals 0.006 0.015 0.018
materials Fossil fuel 3.148 5.700 3.665
Fig. 1. The results of LCA analysis (in Pt/m3) of three kinds of plaster, divided into
Total: 6.035 12.916 5.699
impact categories.
Source: Own elaboration based on SimaPro programme. Source: Own elaboration based on SimaPro programme.
 R. Dylewski, J. Adamczyk / Journal of Cleaner Production 83 (2014) 256e262 259

4.1. Ecological load of applying plaster the requirements of a minimum thickness of plaster according to
(PN-EN, 2009), which is 15 mm for ordinary one-layer plaster,
The ecological load of applying plaster KS (the increase of impact whereas for thermal insulation plaster the minimum thickness is
on the environment) for 1 m2 of the wall area can be assigned from 20 mm. Total thickness of insulation plaster (several layers) should
the formula: not exceed 100 mm (PN-EN, 2009). One-layer plaster was described
h i thoroughly in (PN-EN, 2012), where the requirements concerning
Ks ¼ d$Kl Pt=m2 ; (1) plastering mortars were defined as well as the conditions of
applying it were presented and the requirements referring to final
where:
functional properties. Ecological loads, assigned from the Formula
(1), were included in Table 4.
KS e ecological load of applying plaster [Pt/m2],
For a further analysis the data was accepted referring to Polish
Kl e result of LCA analysis for 1 m3 of plaster [Pt/m3],
circumstances. In Poland external building walls must have heat
d e thickness of plaster [m].
transfer coefficient not bigger than 0.30 W/m2K, according to the
Regulation of Infrastructure Minister (RMI, 2008). However, heat
For a particular thickness of plaster d, heat transfer coefficient U
transfer coefficient for building walls without a layer of plaster was
for a wall with a layer of plaster will be smaller than for a wall
accepted as Uo ¼ 0.30 W/m2K. The heat transfer coefficient assigned
without a layer of plaster (Laskowski, 2005):
from the formula (2) will then amount U ¼ 0.276 W/m2K for a wall
h i with a layer of bims granule plaster as well as EPS plaster and
U ¼ ð1=U0 þ d=lÞ1 W=m2 K ; (2) U ¼ 0.298 W/m2K for a wall with a layer of cement plaster.
where: The studies were conducted for a house with a garage having the
usable floor area of 156.1 m2 and the area of external walls of
U e heat transfer coefficient of a wall with a layer of plaster [W/ p ¼ 158.7 m2 and building cubature 390 m3. For determining the
m2K], value of demand for heat in the thermal phase of the building usage
Uo e heat transfer coefficient of a wall without a layer of plaster the computer programme Herz OZC version 3.0 was applied (Herz
[W/m2K], OZC, 2012). The programme aims at determining the analytical
l e thermal conductivity for plaster [W/mK], demand for thermal power of particular rooms in the building as
d e as already defined in the paper. well as of the whole building. It includes all aspects necessary to
assign the energy demand in the building. The demand of the
following values was obtained: 17,997 kWh/y (for Uo ¼ 0.30 W/
4.2. An ecological effect and net ecological effect obtained as a
m2K), 17,970 kWh/y (for U ¼ 0.298 W/m2K) and 17,679 kWh/y (for
result of applying plaster
U ¼ 0.276 W/m2K).
Three types of heat sources were taken into consideration with
As a result of putting plaster on the external walls of the building
substantially different cost of heating. Go means annual heating
the demand for thermal energy in each year of the thermal phase of
cost with reference to 1 m2 of the wall area (Laskowski, 2005).
the building usage decreases and as a consequence the environ-
(S1) hard coal boiler, Go ¼ 10.90 PLN K/W (¼126$106$24$3605),
ment load is also reduced due to a smaller energy consumption.
at the cost of obtaining heat for heating purposes 126 PLN/MWh,
Ecological effect ZS (for 1 m2 of the wall area) obtained in the phase
(boiler efficiency of 80%, fuel calorific value of 29 MJ/kg and the
of the building usage for n years as a result of applying the plaster
price 769 PLN/t);
are the following:
(S2) natural gas boiler, Go ¼ 30.37 PLN K/W
h i (¼351$106$24$3605), at the cost of obtaining heat for heating
Zs ¼ n$ðEU0  EU Þ=p Pt=m2 ; (3) purposes 351 PLN/MWh, (boiler efficiency 90%, fuel calorific value
where: of 31 MJ/m3 and the price 2.63 PLN/m3);
(S3) electric energy boiler, Go ¼ 50.18 PLN K/W
ZS e ecological effect in the phase of the building usage obtained (¼580$106$24$3605), at the cost of obtaining heat for heating
as a result of applying the plaster [Pt/m2], purposes 580 PLN/MWh, (electric energy price 0.58 PLN/kWh).
EUo e LCA analysis result of one year phase of the building usage, The prices were given according to (GUS, 2012). In the further
for external building walls with coefficient of heat transfer Uo part of the paper the rate of euro was accepted as 1 V ¼ 4.20 PLN
(without a layer of plaster) [Pt/y], (09.03.2013) according to the data from the National Bank of Poland
EU e LCA analysis result of one year phase of the building usage, (NBP, 2013). The number of Sd ¼ 3605 days was taken (several
for external building walls with heat transfer coefficient U (with years' average in Poland for the years 1980e2004), (Gikas and
a layer of plaster) [Pt/y], Keenan, 2006). The figure of degree-days of a heating season is a
n e length of period for using plaster [y],
p e area of external walls for the whole building [m2].
Table 4
Ecological loads, ecological effects and net ecological effects.
A net ecological effect for the environment OS obtained as a
result of applying the plaster equals the difference of an ecological Heat source / S1 S2 S3
effect and load: 2
KS [Pt/m ] Bims granule plaster 0.121 0.121 0.121
Cement plaster 0.258 0.258 0.258
h i
EPS plaster 0.114 0.114 0.114
Os ¼ Zs  Ks Pt=m2 : (4)
ZS [Pt/m2] Bims granule plaster 1.953 1.229 4.883
Cement plaster 0.158 0.095 0.441
EPS plaster 1.953 1.229 4.883
4.3. Ecological effects of applying plaster for an example building OS [Pt/m2] Bims granule plaster 1.832 1.108 4.762
Cement plaster 0.100 0.163 0.183
For the analysis a standard thickness of plaster d ¼ 0.02 m was EPS plaster 1.839 1.115 4.769

accepted. The assumed thickness of a layer stays in accordance with Source: Own elaboration.
260 R. Dylewski, J. Adamczyk / Journal of Cleaner Production 83 (2014) 256e262

quantitative factor defining heating energy demand of houses and
public utility buildings, it is determined on the grounds of the
climate data for a particular town. It is calculated when the whole
day external air temperature is lower than the assumed base
temperature.
The environment load was assigned (in Pt/kWh) for obtaining
1 kWh of thermal energy for the analyzed heat sources (with the
use of SimaPro program). The results obtained: 0.0193 Pt/kWh for
S1, 0.0123 Pt/kWh for S2 and 0.0485 Pt/kWh for S3 (Dylewski and
Adamczyk, 2012). LCA analysis of one year thermal phase of the
building usage was conducted, for external walls without a layer of
plaster EUo (for Uo ¼ 0.30 W/m2K) and with a layer of plaster EU (for
U ¼ 0.276 W/m2K and U ¼ 0.298 W/m2K), depending on heat
source used. The results were presented in Table 3. For each heat
source in each year of the thermal usage phase the reduction of the
environment load for about 1.8% is obtained after using bims
granule or EPS plaster and below 0.2% after using cement plaster,
with relation to the building without a layer of plaster.
From the Formula (3) ecological effects ZS were assigned in the
phase of building usage as well as from the Formula (4) net
ecological effects OS obtained due to using the analyzed types of
plaster.
For the calculations the period of usage (durability) of the
plaster was accepted as n ¼ 50 years. It is obvious that in such a long
period of common (cement) plaster usage the necessity of reno-
vating (painting) it can appear. However, taking great changeability
among users of buildings in the time period of painting or cleaning
plaster into consideration, this aspect was omitted in the analyzed
borders of the system. The results were presented in Table 4.
The obtained ecological effects for bims granule plaster are
repeatedly bigger than ecological loads. For this plaster, for regard
of heat source used, the greatest net ecological effects OS were
obtained with using the electric energy boiler S3 (see Table 4),
because the greatest difference of EUo e EU ¼ 15.5 Pt/y was ob-
tained for this source (see Table 3). The ecological payback period,
after which an ecological effect already exceeds ecological load,
was: 3 years for S1, 5 years for S2 and 2 year for S3. In the case of
EPS plaster the ecological payback periods were obtained the
same.
However, for cement plaster only in the case of heat source S3
ecological effects from 50 years will exceed the loads. The
ecological payback period was 30 years. In the case of using heat
source S1 or S2 ecological loads will not balance the effects (see
Table 4).
5. The economic effects of using plaster on external building
walls
5.1. Economic costs of applying plaster
The economic costs KE of applying plaster on external building
walls are connected with the costs of purchasing plastering mortar
and the costs of performance (laying plaster). The costs in relation
to 1 m2 of the wall area are:
5.2. Economic profits and benefits obtained as a result of applying
plaster
With the use of plaster there is the energy saving due to the
reduction of the demand for energy to heat the building. The eco-
nomic profits ZE can be assigned from the formula (Dylewski and
Adamczyk, 2008, 2011):
h . i
ZE ¼ Sn G0 ðU0  UÞ V m2 ; (6)
where:
ZE e economic profits in the phase of the building usage due to
plaster use [V/m2],
Go e annual heating cost in relation to 1 m2 of the wall area [V K/
W],
Sn e cumulative discount factor, with the number of years n and
 t
P n
interest rates r and s, (Sn ¼ nt¼1 1þr
1þs ¼ q1q
1 1;
1þs
where q ¼ 1þr
e annual discount factor, t e year number),
r e real annual interest rate,
s e real annual growth (in percentage) of heating cost,
n, U, Uo e as already defined in the paper.
For economic regards the application of plaster on external
building walls generates the benefits OE of the value:
h . i
OE ¼ ZE  KE V m2 : (7)
5.3. Economic effects of applying plaster for an example building
Km ¼ 575.00 V/m3 and Kw ¼ 30.00 V/m2 were accepted for bims
granule plaster (according to data from Proiso, 2010),
Km ¼ 190.00 V/m3 and Kw ¼ 40.00 V/m2 for cement plaster (ac-
cording to data from Adamczyk and Springer, 2010) as well as
Km ¼ 360.00 V/m3 and Kw ¼ 30.00 V/m2 for EPS plaster (according
to data from Sachsen, 2012). Due to much lower specific weight, the
cost of performance Kw is about 30% lower for the analyzed thermal
insulation types of plaster.
The thickness of plaster and other necessary data were accepted
the same as presented in point 4. The obtained economic costs
assigned from the Formula (5) were included in Table 5. Although
bims granule plaster is three times more expensive the cost of
performance for cement plaster is for about 1/3 higher, therefore
the economic costs (for the plaster thickness equal 0.02 m) were
obtained smaller for bims granule plaster than for cement plaster.
Far lower economic costs were obtained for EPS plaster.
The economic profits ZE were assigned from the Formula (6) and
the economic benefits OE from the Formula (7) obtained as a result
of using the analyzed types of plaster. The values of interest rates
Table 5
Economic costs, profits and benefits.

h . i Heat source / S1 S2 S3
KE ¼ Km $d þ Kw V m2 ; (5) 2
KE [V/m ] Bims granule plaster 41.50 41.50 41.50
Cement plaster 43.80 43.80 43.80
where: EPS plaster 37.20 37.20 37.20
ZE [V/m2] Bims granule plaster 1.99 5.52 9.12
Cement plaster 0.17 0.46 0.76
KE e economic costs of applying plaster [V/m2], EPS plaster 1.99 5.52 9.12
Km e cost of 1 m3 of the plaster [V/m3], OE [V/m2] Bims granule plaster 39.51 35.98 32.38
Kw e cost of performance (laying plaster) for 1 m2 of the wall Cement plaster 43.63 43.34 43.04
area [V/m2], EPS plaster 35.21 31.68 28.08

d e as already defined in the paper. Source: Own elaboration.

 R. Dylewski, J. Adamczyk / Journal of Cleaner Production 83 (2014) 256e262
were accepted as r ¼ 5% and s ¼ 3%. The results were presented in
Table 5.
The economic profits obtained for thermal insulation types of
plaster are several times higher (for each heat source) than for
cement plaster. Therefore, for economic reasons, the application of
thermal insulation plaster is far more beneficial. Unfortunately
these profits do not cover however the economic costs of using the
plaster. In the case of bims granule plaster, with the use of heat
source S3, about 22% of cost is reimbursed, for S2 about 13% and for
S1 about 5%. However, in the case of EPS plaster, with the use of S3
heat source, ca. 25% of cost is reimbursed, with S2 ca. 15% and with
S1 ca. 5%.
It is possible to assign the optimum thickness dop of a layer of
plaster for which the economic benefits OE reach the maximum
value (see Dylewski and Adamczyk, 2008; Dylewski and Adamczyk,
2011):
pffiffiffiffiffiffipffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
dop ¼ G0 Sn l=Km  l=U0 ½m:
For the data accepted previously, only with the use of heat
source S3 and EPS plaster, the thickness bigger than
0 (dop ¼ 0.04 m) was obtained. In the other cases dop ¼ 0.0 m is
obtained. For the maximum thickness of d ¼ 0.03 m as it is possible
to use for the layer of thermal insulation plaster, with the use of
heat source S3: U ¼ 0.265 W/m2K is obtained for bims granule
plaster, moreover KE ¼ 47.25 V/m2, ZE ¼ 13.31 V/m2 and
OE ¼ 33.94 V/m2; U ¼ 0.266 W/m2K is obtained for EPS plaster,
furthermore KE ¼ 40.80 V/m2, ZE ¼ 12.93 V/m2 and OE ¼ 27.87
V/m2. Therefore, only for EPS plaster the application of the thick-
ness of 0.03 m instead of 0.02 m is more profitable for economic
reasons.
6. Conclusions
Bims granule plaster has mechanical properties comparable
with cement plaster, it has however a far smaller density and is
characterized by very good adhesion. It was checked whether it is
beneficial to use thermal insulation bims granule plaster or EPS
plaster on the external building walls instead of cement plaster.
Bims granule plaster has good thermal insulation properties com-
parable with typical thermal insulation materials (thermal con-
ductivity equals 0.068 W/mK). It causes thus an improvement of
the thermal insulation properties of walls and the reduction of
energy consumption to heat in the thermal phase of the building
usage. It brings both certain economic and ecological benefits.
The net ecological effect is positive for this plaster already after 2
(with electric energy boiler) to 5 (with natural gas boiler) years. It is
similar for EPS plaster. In the case of using cement plaster, with
electric energy boiler, the net ecological effect will be positive as
long as after 30 years. With other analyzed heat sources even after
50 years the ecological effects will not cover the ecological loads of
applying cement plaster.
For economic reasons, the profits obtained from the reduced
energy consumption however do not cover completely the cost of
applying the plaster. The biggest part of cost is reimbursed in case
when the electric energy boiler is used as a heat source (about 22%
e Bims granule plaster, 25% e EPS plaster). For this boiler there is
the biggest cost of heating among three analyzed heat sources.
For both economic and ecological reasons the use of bims
granule or EPS plaster is far more beneficial than cement plaster.
Cement plaster almost does not influence the improvement of the
thermal insulation properties of the wall at all (thermal conduc-
tivity equals 0.930 W/mK), as a consequence the reduction of en-
ergy consumption is very small. If assumed that white colour of
bims granule plaster is suitable for the investor, then it should be
261
also emphasized that the next economic and ecological benefit is
the savings connected with not performing the jobs of painting
building walls.
The application of thermal insulation plaster can reduce the
energy demand to heat the building by several percent annually,
while the use of thermal insulation material even by several tens of
percent (see e.g. Dylewski and Adamczyk, 2012). Ecological loads
are comparable for thermal insulation types of plaster and thermal
insulation materials. Due to smaller thicknesses used and worse
values of thermal conductivity, ecological effects are obtained
lower for thermal insulation plaster. As a consequence, thermal
insulation plaster brings smaller net ecological effects than thermal
insulation materials (based on Dylewski and Adamczyk, 2012). For
economic reasons, the costs of applying plaster are much higher
than thermal insulation, and the profits are significantly lower.
Consequently, economic benefits are much higher in the case of
thermal insulation materials.
(8)
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