Advancing Sustainable Building Technologies: A Focus on Bio-Based Multi-Layer Panels and Real-Scale Hygrothermal Analysis

The chapter explores the critical role of bio-based materials in advancing sustainable building technologies, with a particular focus on their hygrothermal properties. It investigates the behavior of wood–cement particleboards and other bio-based materials in a real-scale experimental timber-framed house in Latvia, providing a comprehensive analysis of heat and moisture transfers within wooden building envelopes. The study reveals the significant impact of temperature variations and solar radiation on the hygrothermal behavior of these materials, offering valuable insights for optimizing building envelopes and enhancing energy efficiency. The chapter also presents detailed experimental methods and protocols, including the use of different grades of wood–cement particleboards and the creation of innovative material mixes for the inner layers of the experimental walls. Furthermore, it discusses the monitoring system and sensor placement, providing a thorough validation of the experimental setup and preliminary analyses. The results highlight the strong coupling between heat and moisture transfer in porous building envelopes, paving the way for future investigations and numerical simulations under different weather conditions.