Impact of Ecological Thermal Roof Insulation on the Energy Efficiency of Conventional Buildings in a Semi-Arid Climate

Abstract

The roof is the most exposed element of a building's envelope and significantly contributes to cooling loads in hot climates. Effective thermal insulation of the roof can substantially reduce energy consumption for cooling and help achieve sustainability goals. This theoretical study focuses on the thermal and energy performance of an eco-friendly insulation material, aiming to determine the optimal thickness for the roof of a traditional residential building in the semi-arid climate. The study evaluated the effectiveness of an insulation material composed of 60% cardboard and 40% straw, with varying thicknesses. TRNSYS software was used to simulate the thermal behavior of the building. The study's results reveal that the optimal thickness is 4 cm, providing the best thermal performance by reducing maximum indoor temperatures by 2.67°C during the hottest months, leading to a 37.93% reduction in annual cooling energy demand. Furthermore, the 4 cm panels represent the best compromise between thermal performance, resource efficiency, and economic feasibility. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights for the design of more energy-efficient buildings through optimized thermal insulation. Future research should explore additional factors influencing building performance, such as the long-term durability of materials in different climates, as well as the impact of building occupancy and orientation. Although this study has certain limitations in its analysis of specific parameters and alternatives, it makes a significant contribution to understanding the performance of buildings with ecological insulation.