Impact of Insulation using Bio-sourced Materials on the Thermal and Energy Performance of a Typical Residential Building in Morocco
H. Kaddouri, Abderrahim Abidouche, Mohamed Saidi Hassani Alaoui, Ismael Driouch, Said Hamdaoui
Abstract
Among the measures to be taken to design and construct buildings with envelopes that are more energy-efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly is thermal insulation using a very wide range of insulating materials, either synthetic or of natural origin or derived from biomass. The present work represents a thermal and energy study aimed at improving the thermal comfort levels and energy requirements of a typical residential building located in the city of Al-Hoceima, Morocco. To this end, a series of numerical simulations were carried out using TRNSYS software to assess the impact of applying three bio-based insulation materials, namely hemp wool, wood fiber, and expanded cork, in the wall layer of the building. Different insulation scenarios were studied to make a choice that would ensure optimum comfort in the building with low energy demand. The results of this study show that insulating the roof with 8 cm of hemp wool contributes to energy savings of up to 36.7% and 35.2% for cooling and heating demand respectively. In thermal terms, improvements in the temperature inside the building have been achieved: in January, the maximum temperature recorded is 20.94°C, while in July, the maximum temperature is around 26.80°C.