Thermal Performance of Textile Reinforced Concrete Insulated Panels

The energy efficiency of construction materials plays a pivotal role in achieving sustainable building practices, where both embodied energy and operational performance define their lifecycle impact. This study presents an energy audit of Textile Reinforced Concrete Insulated Panels (TRCIPs), benchmarked against conventional concrete panels (CPs) and brick masonry walls. The thermal performance was evaluated through laboratory measurements of thermal conductivity using a TPS 2500S analyzer, with corresponding R-values and U-values computed to assess operational energy efficiency. Results indicate that TRCIPs reduce thermal conductivity by 29% compared to CPs, achieving 26–35% higher thermal resistance. Economic appraisal demonstrates that although TRCIPs incur slightly higher initial costs, they achieve payback within 4–6 years under local tariff conditions and generate substantial lifecycle energy cost savings. This integrated energy economic audit demonstrates that TRCIPs are energy smart, providing a replicable framework for evaluating sustainable walling systems. The results highlight TRCIPs as a viable next generation material for reducing building energy consumption and enhancing economic performance in construction.