Using BIM to propose building alternatives towards lower consumption of electric power in Iraq

Abstract

This paper investigates the reasons for the dissatisfaction of the Iraqi people with the privatization of electricity due to the significant increase in electricity bills. It examines the main factors that affect the energy demand in the Iraqi houses for cooling and heating by modeling and analyzing existing buildings using Building Information Modeling (BIM). The results of energy consumption from BIM were compared with real consumption of the houses which was obtained from the bills to investigate the reality of the results. The simulation results were well-matched with the real data. Then three buildings were modeled and analyzed with alternative materials for roofs and walls by considering the cost of construction (CC), life cycle energy cost (LCEC) and carbon emission (CE) for each alternative. The best alternative is selected according to the opinion of the occupants, which was achieved by a questionnaire and the data obtained from the BIM models. The questionnaire data and the simulation results were analyzed by using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique. The obtained results were represented in a framework for selecting the best materials for constructing walls and roofs. For walls, it was found that rock block is the best since the final weight from AHP results was 0.5371, and Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Block (AAC block) rib slab is the best for roof with a final weight equal to 0.4218. The final model has LCEC of five times less than the original unit, but CC were equal and CE was decreased from 5 ton/year to less than 0.8 ton/year in the suggested alternative.