Development of Spatial Distribution Maps for Energy Demand and Thermal Comfort Estimation in Algeria

Samir Semahi, Mohammed Amin Benbouras, Waqas Ahmed Mahar, Noureddine Zemmouri and Shady Attia
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Samir Semahi: Sustainable Building Design (SBD) Lab, Department of UEE, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universitè de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Mohammed Amin Benbouras: Laboratoire de matériaux en génie civil et environnement, École Nationale Polytechnique, Algiers BPN 177, Algeria
Waqas Ahmed Mahar: Sustainable Building Design (SBD) Lab, Department of UEE, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universitè de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Noureddine Zemmouri: Laboratory of Design and Modeling of Architectural and Urban Forms and Ambiances (LACOMOFA), Department of architecture, Universite de Biskra, Biskra 07000, Algeria
Shady Attia: Sustainable Building Design (SBD) Lab, Department of UEE, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universitè de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 15, 1-25

Abstract: Climatic spatial maps are essential for understanding the thermal conditions of cities and estimate their cooling and heating energy needs. Climate maps allow building designers and city planners to get adequately informed without accessing, analyzing or interpreting dense textual information. In this study, a representative residential benchmark model was simulated in seventy-four cities of Algeria. The simulation results were interpolated using geographic information systems to generate six high-resolution maps that spatially estimate and visualize the discomfort hours and cooling/heating energy needs. The unique methodology relies on a reliable weather dataset (2004–2018) and combines the power of building performance simulation and geographic information systems. The results of these analyses provide easy to understand and web-based atlas that can be used to explore regional and local climate and quantify the discomfort hours, the heating/cooling energy needs and energy use intensity. The spatial maps are not a static product, but rather data-rich content, which can be expanded to include the most important cities of Algeria. The capabilities of the tool allow architects and urban planners to understand the climate better and propose practical design guidance.

Keywords: climatic zoning; geographic information system; building performance simulation; discomfort hours; residential building (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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