Improving the energy efficiency performance of residential buildings in hot arid regions using lightweight concrete bricks

Abstract

The escalating global energy demand and the imperative to combat climate change necessitate urgent action to reduce energy consumption in the building sector. This research focuses on advancing the development of lightweight construction materials with enhanced thermal insulation properties to address the growing energy demands of residential buildings. The study explores using vermiculite, perlite, and aluminium powder as additives to traditional cement bricks, aiming to improve thermal performance while maintaining structural integrity. The research employs a multifaceted approach, combining experimental and simulation methods. The experimental phase involves fabricating solid cement bricks with varying proportions of vermiculite, perlite, and aluminium powder. The bricks' mechanical, physical, and thermal properties are systematically evaluated. The simulation study employs Design Builder software to assess the real-world thermal performance and energy efficiency of lightweight bricks in a virtual residential building, replicating the harsh desert climate of New Cairo, Egypt. The research found that incorporating vermiculite, perlite, and aluminium powder into cement bricks significantly reduced their thermal conductivity, improving thermal insulation properties. While this incorporation decreased compressive strength, indicating a trade-off between weight reduction and structural integrity, the simulation study demonstrated substantial energy savings and reduced carbon footprints associated with using these lightweight bricks in a virtual residential building model, highlighting their potential for sustainable construction.