Performance Assessment Methods and Effects of Bamboo-Based Envelopes in Buildings Under Hot and Humid Conditions

The increment in the average global temperature and the lack of resources for the built environment are leading researchers to look for alternative construction materials and building design approaches based on nature. Bamboo-based materials have been attracting significant interest in the design and construction of sustainable buildings because of their fast-growing, appropriate thermal and mechanical properties and effectiveness in CO₂ absorption. Thus, this chapter systematically analyzes the methods employed over the years to assess the thermal and energy performance of bamboo-based constructive systems as part of the building’s envelope (either by relevant thermal properties, comfort indicators, or energy indicators) under hot, humid, and tropical conditions. The interest in studying bamboo-based composites coupled with advanced assessment methods is considered a current and trending topic. Most studies, including experimental analysis, are not performed at the building scale, but rather at a local scale that struggles to consider the thermal dynamics the envelope system could experiment. The latter was investigated through four case studies under the tropical climates of Panama for March and October. Here, common bamboo-based envelope elements were assessed and compared to conventional envelope elements with different insulation and thermal mass degrees via parametric analysis based on dynamic simulations. Results demonstrated comparable energy and thermal performance to other conventional envelope elements and, in some cases, successfully outstanding recommended envelopes in the local regulation. Finally, including bamboo envelope elements in buildings help increase energy efficiency by reducing electricity consumption for cooling, not so regarding the thermal comfort in merely naturally ventilated buildings.