Abstract
The trend in energy consumption, with a particular focus on heating and cooling demand, is an issue that is relevant to the promotion of new energy policies and more efficient energy systems. Moreover, heating and cooling energy demand is expected to rise in the next several decades, mainly due to climate change as well as increasing incomes in developing countries. In this context, the building sector is currently a relevant energy-intensive economic sector in Morocco; it accounts for 33% of the country’s total energy demand (as the sector with the second highest energy demand, after the transport sector), with the residential sector accounting for 25% and the tertiary sector accounting for 8%. Aiming to reduce energy dependence and promote sustainable development, the Moroccan government recently issued a comprehensive plan to increase the share of renewables and improve energy efficiency. This strategy includes novel thermal building regulations promoted by the Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency. This paper analyzes the thermal behavior and heating-cooling energy demand of a residential building located in Tangier (Morocco) as a case example, based on the country’s new thermal regulations and considering specific climatological conditions. A comparison with common Moroccan residential buildings as well as with those in nearby countries with similar meteorological conditions but significant differences in terms of energy demand regulation and requirements, such as Spain, is also included. Simulations were carried out using the DesingBuilder and EnergyPlus Software packages. According to the results, the last building thermal regulation requirements in Morocco need to be revised and extended in order to achieve the energy efficiency objectives established by the Moroccan government for 2030.
Highlights
The relevant increase in energy demand and its effects on the environment have led countries to promote actions and programs in order to mitigate these negative environmental, economic and energy dependence effects
In this paper, we describe and compare both Spanish and Moroccan thermal building and energy efficiency regulations, providing results from a reference building case example located invTangier (Morocco) and aiming to meet the corresponding national energy requirements
This energy consumption was based on the corresponding outdoor and indoor temperature evolution during an ordinary year for the location of Tangier estimated by the EnergyPlus software package
Summary
The relevant increase in energy demand and its effects on the environment have led countries to promote actions and programs in order to mitigate these negative environmental, economic and energy dependence effects. These countries have developed national legislative frameworks to regulate efficient and renewable energy scenarios according to the different sectors and their energy requirements. Kephalopoulos et al [5] affirmed that energy poverty is a common issue in social housing, mainly in Southern European countries, due to the low income level of their inhabitants These countries have more favorable climatic conditions, but commonly present poorer building insulation, less efficient thermal equipment, and, with regard to the average user, a lack of energy-efficient habits. Added to this is the fact that around 50 million
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