Abstract:
The escalating energy requirements in edifices, especially in academic
establishments, emphasize the necessity for improved energy efficacy and sustainable
energy mechanisms. The EnergyPlus simulation software and OpenStudio tools, in
combination with SketchUp, are employed to conduct the assessment. The thesis
endeavours to assess the energy efficiency of various building materials, namely
Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, Brick, Insulated Concrete Forms, and Structural
Insulated Panels, identifying the optimal configurations that are best suited to the
prevailing climatic conditions of the city. This thesis employs a comparative approach
to acknowledge the intrinsic diversity and multifaceted factors present in educational
buildings. The analysis encompasses a range of factors, such as the orientation of the
openings, thermal mass, and insulation layers. The study reveals that Structural
Insulated Panels (SIPs) exhibit the highest energy efficiency among the four materials,
with 11.8% less site energy and 9% less source energy than brick, which has the lowest
efficiency.
