Open Access

ARTICLE

Energy Efficiency of a Solar Green Building Using Bio-Sourced Materials for Indoor Temperature and Humidity Optimization

by Soumia Mounir^1,2,3,*, Youssef Maaloufa^1,2,3, Abdelhamid Khabbazi², Elina Mohd Husini⁴, Nurul Syala Abdul Latip⁴, Yakubu Aminu Dodo^5,6, Rime EL Harrouni^2,7, Mina Amazal³, Asma Souidi³, Malika Atigui³, Ahmed Aharoune³

1 National School of Architecture Agadir, New Complex Ibn Zohr, Agadir, BP 20732, Morocco
2 EMDD, CERNE2D, University of Mohammed V in Rabat, Est Sale, Sale, BP 227, Morocco
3 Thermodynamics and Energetics Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, BP 8106, Morocco
4 Faculty of Built Environment, University Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, BP 71800, Malaysia
5 Architectural Engineering Department, Najran University, Najran, BP 1988, Saudi Arabia
6 The Centre of Scientific and Engineering Research, Najran University, Najran, BP 1988, Saudi Arabia
7 Euro-Mediterranean School of Architecture, Design and Urbanism, Euro-Mediterranean University of Fez, Fez, BP 51, Morocco

* Corresponding Author: Soumia Mounir. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Materials and Energy an Updated Image for 2023)

Energy Engineering 2025, 122(1), 41-62. https://doi.org/10.32604/ee.2024.057125

Received 08 August 2024; Accepted 11 November 2024; Issue published 27 December 2024

Abstract

A clean environment with low carbon emissions is the goal of research on the development of green and sustainable buildings that use bio-sourced materials in conjunction with solar energy to create more sustainable cities. This is particularly true in Africa, where there aren’t many studies on the topic. The current study suggests a 90 m² model of a sustainable building in a dry climate that is movable to address the issue of housing in remote areas, ensures comfort in harsh weather conditions, uses solar renewable resources—which are plentiful in Africa—uses bio-sourced materials, and examines how these materials relate to temperature and humidity control while emitting minimal carbon emissions. In order to solve the topic under consideration, the work is split into two sections: numerical and experimental approaches. Using TRNSYS and Revit, the suggested prototype building is examined numerically to examine the impact of orientation, envelope composition made of bio-sourced materials, and carbon emissions. Through a hygrothermal investigation, experiments are conducted to evaluate this prototype’s effectiveness. Furthermore, an examination of the photovoltaic system’s production, consumption, and several scenarios used to maximize battery life is included in the paper. Because the biosourced material achieves a thermal transmittance of 0.15 (W.m⁻².K⁻¹), the results demonstrate an intriguing finding in terms of comfort. This value satisfies the requirements of passive building, energy autonomy of the dwelling, and injection in-network with an annual value of 15,757 kWh. Additionally, compared to the literature, the heating needs ratio is 6.38 (kWh/m².an) and the cooling needs ratio is 49 (kWh/m².an), both of which are good values. According to international norms, the inside temperature doesn’t go above 26°C, and the humidity level is within a comfortable range.

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