An Investigation towards Optimizing the Construction Materials and Configurations of Buildings for Improving Energy Efficiency and Consumption in Morocco
Ali Lamrani Alaoui,
Abdel-Illah Amrani,
Seyed Soheil Mousavi Ajarostaghi,
Mohsen Saffari Pour,
Jamal-Eddine Salhi,
Abdelkarim Daoudia,
Mohammed Halimi
Affiliations
Ali Lamrani Alaoui
Equipe des Energies Nouvelles et Ingénierie des Matériaux (ENIM), Laboratoire de Sciences et Techniques de l’Ingénieur (LSTI), Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Moulay Ismail University of Meknès, Boutalamine BP 509, Errachidia 52000, Morocco
Abdel-Illah Amrani
Equipe des Energies Nouvelles et Ingénierie des Matériaux (ENIM), Laboratoire de Sciences et Techniques de l’Ingénieur (LSTI), Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Moulay Ismail University of Meknès, Boutalamine BP 509, Errachidia 52000, Morocco
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman 76169-14111, Iran
Jamal-Eddine Salhi
Materials Science, New Energies and Applications Research Group, Laboratoire de Physique Théorique, des Particules, Modélisation et Energies (LPTPME), Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed 1st University, Oujda 60000, Morocco
Abdelkarim Daoudia
Equipe de Physique Théorique et Modélisation (PTM), Laboratoire de Sciences et Techniques de l’Ingénieur (LSTI), Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Moulay Ismail University of Meknès, Boutalamine BP 509, Errachidia 52000, Morocco
Mohammed Halimi
Department of Physics, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Moulay Ismail University of Meknès, Boutalamine BP 509, Errachidia 52000, Morocco
In this paper, a thermal performance assessment of traditional building constructions and configurations in various Moroccan climates is carried out. This research focuses on enhancing conventional energy efficiency of buildings by investigating the thermal behavior of single clay walls, double clay walls, simple brick walls, and double brick walls based on long-term meteorological data using TRNSYS software. The roof pitch, thermal comfort and discomfort index, and building energy consumption are considered while selecting buildings for each temperature zone. It is noticed that the double brick construction is more efficient in all climatic zones of Morocco. Thus, this material reduces the yearly energy requirement of building by 22% to 25% compared to the usual brick building. On the coldest winter days, a 30° south-facing roof raises the internal temperature by 2.5 °C compared to a horizontal roof. Temperature increases could reduce the air conditioning energy usage by 7% to 32% and overcooling hours by 12% to 21% in cities above 30° N. In addition, the findings are interesting enough to inspire individuals to implement the recommended construction design and study energy efficiency and thermal comfort in Moroccan buildings. Consequently, reducing energy consumption, mitigating climate change, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
