Optimizing Passive Thermal Performance in Moroccan Residential Structures:

Abstract

This study presents a comparative analysis of three construction scenarios for a residential building in Morocco, maintaining consistent parameters such as building orientation, architectural layout, and occupancy schedule. The research uses dynamic thermal simulations with TRNSYS software to evaluate the influence of different wall and roof compositions on energy consumption and indoor thermal comfort. The investigation focuses on the integration of ecofriendly hemp-based materials, particularly hempcrete, recognized for its insulating properties. Simulations were conducted across four Moroccan climatic zones: Mediterranean (Al Hoceima), continental (Oujda), semi-arid (Marrakech), and desert (Ouarzazate) to capture diverse environmental conditions. Results demonstrate that the use of hempcrete can reduce heating energy demand by up to 39% and cooling demand by up to 15%, while enhancing indoor thermal comfort with an average winter temperature increase of 0.77°C and a summer decrease of 0.62°C. These findings highlight the potential of hempcrete to improve building energy performance and contribute to carbon footprint reduction in varied climatic contexts.