Bio-Based Feather–Wool Nonwoven Thermal Insulation for Intelligent Beehives: Field Validation Using IoT Telemetry
Sebastian Górecki, Krystyna Wrześniewska-Tosik, Michalina Pałczyńska, Damian Walisiak, Tomasz Kowalewski, Szymon PrzybyłAbstract
Honeybee colonies are essential for biodiversity and food production but face increasing environmental pressures. This study presents a bio-based needle-punched nonwoven insulation composed of recycled chicken feathers and sheep wool, with a mass per unit area of approximately 433 g/m², integrated with an telemetry system for beehive monitoring. The multilayer composite was validated under real apiary conditions during a 1-year pilot study. Insulated hives exhibited improved thermal stability and enhanced overwintering vitality. Monitoring temperature, humidity, weight, and acoustic activity revealed seasonal colony dynamics. Correlations with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and PM2.5 data suggest that intelligent hives can serve as bioindicators of environmental conditions.