Natural materials for thermal insulation and passive cooling application

In this chapter a critical analysis about natural materials to enhance energy performance and thermal comfort in indoor and outdoor spaces is dealt with. In particular, thermal insulation and passive cooling application in buildings are analyzed. The physical properties permitting to achieve these benefits are presented, as well as the method and the international standards to measure them. Benefits deriving from these materials' employment as insulation layers or buildings envelope in general of, or in the case of urban paving, are described and then the single materials are illustrated. Experimental and numerical data, as reported in the bibliography, support the dissertation with examples from the most recent research contributions. © (2016) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.