Bruno Malet-Damour

This paper addresses the plastic waste management challenge by proposing a sustainable solution for the building sector. The proposed solution uses Loose-Fill Plastic Waste (LFPW) as a thermal insulation material, the world’s first in plastic waste recovery. To investigate the potential of this new path, an experimental study was conducted on test cells in Reunion Island’s cold and wet climate. It was revealed that LFPW (size between 3 and 4 mm with 8 cm thickness) can reduce surface temperatures by nearly 3.2 °C, with a maximum difference by almost 22.2 °C. The thermal phase shift is significant (190 mn) and comparable to conventional thermal insulation solutions. The study results suggest that LFPW can provide an effective and economical solution to the challenge of plastic waste management while promoting sustainable development.

Research on the links between thermal and visual perception is an ever-evolving field aimed at exploring how one modifies the other. The findings can enhance buildings’ energy performance and the occupants’ well-being. Based on a screening methodology on a substantial article database, this review article provides an overview of the current state of knowledge by examining studies related to the thermo-photometric perception hypothesis between 1926 and 2022. It analyzes the limitations and contributions of these studies, identifies the most recent advancements, and highlights remaining scientific hurdles. For example, we demonstrate that the “hue-heat” hypothesis appears to be verified for specific experimental conditions conducive to measuring subtle parameter variations.