Optimal piping insulation layer based on economic, embodied energy and embodied carbon assessement

This chapter describes an educational case study to perform a techno-economic assessment of installing an insulation layer, focussing on embodied energy, embodied carbon emissions and economic viability. The analysis is based on a hot water pipe section in a district heating network. The chapter introduces a simplified heat transfer model to estimate heat losses and outlines its implementation using Python, highlighting the flexibility and reproducibility of the approach for similar assessments. The framework integrates technical and economic factors to evaluate the performance of different insulation materials and thicknesses. Key performance indicators, such as primary energy savings, fuel consumption reduction, carbon emission mitigation and financial returns, are explained in detail. The concepts of embodied energy and embodied carbon emissions are emphasized to illustrate the impact of insulation materials, from production and transportation to installation and disposal, on key indicators—such as primary energy savings, carbon emission reductions and net economic benefits. The chapter includes step-by-step examples of input parameter definitions, mathematical formulations and Python code snippets to enhance understanding and provide practical guidance. Graphical outputs and parametric analyses are used to shows how varying parameters—such as insulation thickness and insulation material—influence the overall performance.