The improvement of energy efficiency in buildings is pivotal for mitigating climate change and its repercussions on weather patterns, such as raised average temperatures and extreme weather events, which are expected to become an increasingly frequent occurrence. In addition, it is continuously impacting ecosystems and causing biodiversity loss through the proliferation of non-native invasive species, such as Typha domingensis, which can entail significant direct human health impacts. This research puts forth the use of this aquatic plant as thermal insulation material, which would consequently aid in controlling its spreading. Along with a context-tailored manufacturing method, five types of thermal insulation boards were developed, each with a different dosage of cement, ranging from 0 to 80%. Out of these, the boards with 60% of fibre content were found to be optimal due to their low thermal conductivity and their balanced mechanical strength, swelling and hydric performance. Furthermore, transient simulations developed for the Nigerian context and sub-Saharan Africa area showed that the optimal thickness for the boards would be 80 mm. With the implementation of Typha boards, indoor temperatures no longer exceeded 35 °C and the number of comfortable occupied hours increased by 70% compared to the baseline situation.

Graphic Abstract