Challenges and Prospects of Using Thermal Simulation Programs to Improve the Thermal Performance of Building Envelopes: Case Study-Buildings on the Libyan Coast

Abstract

The design team faces several challenges in selecting the appropriate building envelope to enhance the quality of the internal thermal environment. The research aims to identify the difficulties faced by the design team when using thermal simulation programs to improve the efficiency of the envelope used in the study sample buildings, to identify the availability of the properties of the materials used in the envelope when analysing their efficiency using thermal simulation programs, and to establish the most important foundations for selecting envelope materials to achieve enhanced internal environmental quality. The research methodology relies on a descriptive approach by studying previous literature and comparing the Design Builder, Ecotect, and Rhino programs to identify the prospects and challenges of using thermal simulation programs to study the thermal comfort of the building envelope. The analytical approach was used, where a reference laboratory project for thermal analysis was used using the three aforementioned programs to compare and simulate the stages that the design team will go through while working on the thermal analysis with the programs. Six indicators were identified for comparison between the programs (user interface, building modelling, availability of information, availability of default values, weather file, simulation, results), and the total weights of the indicators were (17), with Design Builder receiving (14), Ecotect (11), and Rhino (7).The study recommended that the state pay attention to providing a database of the thermal properties of the building materials used, providing a database of weather files for Libyan cities in monitoring centers, and training design teams to use one of these programs so that they can reach useful results to enhance the thermal comfort of the building envelope. Considering that thermal simulation programs are expensive, engineering companies should be encouraged to use them by providing exemptions and incentives. The study also concluded that the owner must be obligated to provide a thermal comfort range approved by an official authority.