Evaluation of Energy Use Intensity and Energy Cost of a Residential Building in Morocco Using BIM Approach

Abstract

Nearly zero energy buildings (nZEBs) have been defined and standardised for certain developed countries. Most developing countries in the North Africa region lack building energy efficiency standards for their hot environments. With increased pressure on buildings to improve their energy and environmental performance, nZEB buildings are likely to gain popularity over the next few years. Their application in the MENA area can significantly reduce building energy consumption and CO2 emissions. As a result, it is critical to maximise both the energy use intensity (EUI) and the energy cost of a building through Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology for energy analysis. Therefore, this study aims to develop an energy-efficient building by evaluating several design options in terms of EUI and energy cost following ASHRAE 90.1 and Architecture 2030 standards. The baseline scenario’s energy consumption intensity was estimated at 400 kWh/m2/year. ASHRAE 90.1 standards’ adoption has the potential to save 40% of energy demand. The most energy-efficient architecture was identified to be Architecture 2030 with PV integration (92% of energy savings compared to the baseline scenario). In terms of energy costs, 28.5 $/m2/year was estimated to satisfy energy demand under the baseline scenario, 11.2 $/m2/year under ASHRAE standards, and a 3.83 $/m2/year payoff considering Architecture 2030.