The Optimal Use of Renewable Energy in Residential Buildings Under Jordanian Building Regulation: a Case Study

Abstract

The study has investigated the optimal use of renewable energy in residential buildings under Jordanian building regulation in Aydon city northern Jordan. The main purpose of this paper is to examine the important parameters that affect the performance and the energy consumption of residential buildings in Jordan. The most important parameters such as the orientation of the building, the ratio window size to wall area, the insulation, and the impact of the region's climate on loads value have been studied. This study analyzes the appropriateness of these parameters to human thermal comfort in zones and energy saving using the HAP program (Hourly Analysis program) and uses SPSS. The results have indicated that the direction and the angle of the building affect the thermal comfort. It has been found out that when the building angle is 45º and the direction is South-east angle), there is less energy consumption, saving 50% approximately, and saving in heating loads during the year compared with other angles. The highest airflow has been at WWR 90% and the lowest at 0%. The optimal ratio of window size to wall area for all the zones oriented 45º with an average amount of airflow is approximately (40%-60%). The third parameter, the presence of insulation in the building reduces heating and cooling loads by approximately 29%. The fourth parameter, impact climate conditions have a high effect on load values on the energy consumption of the building. The study recommends reviewing the Jordanian building parameters affecting loads to find the best solutions that are economically feasible and bring the system closer to zero energy.