<![CDATA[Global warming has increased indoor temperatures in buildings, particularly in tropical climate regions. This study aimed to evaluate the thermal performance of composite insulation panels made from cellulose-based waste materials, namely newspaper, cardboard, and sawdust, using polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and tapioca starch as binders, in reducing indoor temperatures. A comparative experiment was conducted using four test boxes measuring 240 mm × 220 mm × 340 mm, made of 9 mm thick calcium silicate board, with one side wall replaced by a metal sheet oriented toward the west. The air temperature inside the test boxes was continuously measured using a data logger during the peak heat load period from 12:00 to 16:00 Western Indonesian Time (WIB). The results showed that all tested panels reduced indoor temperatures compared with the control box without insulation. The newspaper-based panel bonded with PVAc exhibited the best thermal performance, with an average temperature reduction of 1.2 °C and a peak temperature reduction of 1.9 °C. In contrast, using tapioca starch as a binder with cardboard resulted in the lowest temperature reduction. These findings indicate that composite panels made from cellulose-based waste have potential as alternative thermal insulation materials for mitigating indoor temperature increases in tropical climates.]]>
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