Implications of Construction Materials on Energy Efficiency of Buildings in Tropical Regions

Ede, A. N. and Olofinnade, O. M. and Edwin, Enyi-Abonta and Bamigboye, Gideon (2017) Implications of Construction Materials on Energy Efficiency of Buildings in Tropical Regions. International Journal of Applied Engineering Research, 12 (18). pp. 7873-7883. ISSN 0973-4562

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Abstract

Construction materials play important roles on energy consumed for conditioning building internal spaces. Thermal properties of construction materials are the least factors considered during material selection process since strength, economy, and aesthetics are more sought after. Also, with the rising rate of global warming, more solar radiation would reach building surfaces, leading to increased energy requirements for cooling, especially in the tropical regions. For future buildings to be sustainable, they must have low energy requirements. This research considers the impacts of common construction materials in Nigeria on the energy required for conducive thermal comfort within building envelopes. Five types of building materials combination models of rammed earth wall with thatched roof, shipping container wall and roof, sand-crate block wall with aluminum roof, brick wall with concrete roof and glass wall with concrete roof were considered. Autodesk Ecotect environmental simulation and analysis software was used for the research. Building models were created for each of the selected materials and subjected to climate data of Ota in Nigeria. From the results obtained, rammed walls with thatch roofs model, similar to traditional systems of the old proved to be the most energy efficient construction material combination for a one storey building in this tropical climate while the shipping container model and glass wall with concrete roof model proved least energy efficient. The resulting temperature curves and the cooling load chart for the considered material models will be a useful tool for designers in search of materials for energy efficiency in the tropical regions.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) T Technology > TH Building construction
Divisions:	Faculty of Engineering, Science and Mathematics > School of Civil Engineering and the Environment
Depositing User:	Dr Oluwarotimi Michael Olofinnade
Date Deposited:	10 Oct 2017 12:51
Last Modified:	10 Oct 2017 12:51
URI:	http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/9470

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