Energy Consumption in Residential Buildings Located in Rural Area Through Utilizing BIM: Effect of Building Materials

Volume 12 , Issue 2 , April 2026

Authors

Abdullah Murad Taher 1 ; Yousif Youkhanna Zaia 2 ; Hishyar Ali Mohammed 3

1 Department of Basic Science, College of Agricultural Engineering Science, University of Duhok, Kurdistan, Iraq

2 Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Duhok, Kurdistan, Iraq

3 Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Duhok, Kurdistan, Iraq

DOI logo 10.17656/sjes.10201

Keywords

Abstract

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is increasingly recognized worldwide as a powerful tool that enhances productivity in the construction industry. By digitally representing building data, BIM helps reduce construction time and costs while improving project quality. This study investigates energy consumption in residential buildings located in rural areas of Iraq using BIM tools, specifically Revit and Insight 360°. In this study, three houses constructed with different materials were analyzed for their energy performance. Energy consumption was assessed using BIM simulations, and indoor temperature was measured manually over a 315-minute period using thermometers. The results showed that the average Energy Use Intensity (EUI) for house (01), house (02), and house (03) was found to be 145, 162, and 170 kWh/m²/year, respectively. These simulation results closely matched the recorded temperature data in terms of energy loss, supporting the accuracy of the software's predictions. Based on the findings, it is recommended that rural construction projects prioritize materials with better thermal insulation to significantly reduce energy consumption.

References

  1. [1] Frolking, S., et al., Three decades of global trends in urban microwave backscatter, building volume and city GDP. Remote Sensing of Environment, 2022. 281: p. 113225.
  2. [2] Hannah Ritchie, V.S.a.M.R. Urbanization. 2024 [cited 2025 Feb, 10]; Available from: https://ourworldindata.org/urbanization.
  3. [3] Wefki, H., R. Khallaf, and A.M. Ebid, Estimating the energy consumption for residential buildings in semiarid and arid desert climate using artificial intelligence. Scientific Reports, 2024. 14(1): p. 13648.
  4. [4] Foss, A., Notes on the Bauer Essay Review of Climate Change: Evidence and Causes by the National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society, 2015. Journal of Scientific Exploration, 2015. 29(4): p. 649-658.
  5. [5] Keho, Y., What drives energy consumption in developing countries? The experience of selected African countries. Energy Policy, 2016. 91: p. 233-246.
  6. [6] Istepanian, H.H., Towards Sustainable Energy Efficiency in Iraq, in Friedrich Ebert Stiftung-Al-Bayan Center for Planning and Studies. 2020.
  7. [7] Khan, D., et al., Embodied Carbon Footprint Assessment of a conventional Commercial Building using BIM, in 11th International Conference (CITC-11). 2020: London, UK.
  8. [8] Utiome, E., R. Drogemuller, and M. Docherty. BIM-based lifecycle planning and specifications for sustainable cities of the future: A conceptual approach. in Proceedings of the CIB W107 Conference 2014: Construction in Developing Countries and its Contribution to Sustainable Development. 2014. United Kingdom: International Council for Building
  9. [9] Zaia, Y.Y., S.M. Adam, and F.H. Abdulrahman, Investigating BIM level in Iraqi construction industry. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 2023. 14(3): p. 101881.
  10. [10] Fewings, P. and C. Henjewele, Construction project management: an integrated approach. 2019, London: Routledge.
  11. [11] Baxter, G., P. Srisaeng, and G. Wild, Sustainable airport energy management: The case of kansai international airport. International Journal for Traffic & Transport Engineering, 2018. 8(3): p. 334-358.
  12. [12] Jadhav, P. and P. Minde, BIM-based energy consumption analysis for residential buildings: effects of orientation, size, and type of windows. Discover Civil Engineering, 2024. 1(1): p. 110.
  13. [13] Zhang, R., et al., Factors influencing BIM adoption for construction enterprises in China. Advances in Civil Engineering, 2020. 2020(2): p. 1-15.
  14. [14] Jane, K., Building Information Modeling (BIM): BIM is a digital representation of a building's physical and functional characteristics. 2024.
  15. [15] Kamel, E. and A. Memari, Review of BIM's application in energy simulation: Tools, issues, and solutions. Automation in Construction, 2018. 97: p. Pages 164-180.
  16. [16] Pan, Y., et al., Building energy simulation and its application for building performance optimization: A review of methods, tools, and case studies. Advances in Applied Energy, 2023. 10: p. 100135.
  17. [17] Pham, A.-D., et al., Predicting energy consumption in multiple buildings using machine learning for improving energy efficiency and sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2020. 260: p. 121082.
  18. [18] Eleftheriadis, S., D. Mumovic, and P. Greening, Life cycle energy efficiency in building structures: A review of current developments and future outlooks based on BIM capabilities. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2017. 67: p. 811-825.
  19. [19] GhaffarianHoseini, A., et al., Application of nD BIM Integrated Knowledge-based Building Management System (BIM-IKBMS) for inspecting post-construction energy efficiency. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2017. 72: p. 935-949.
  20. [20] Braulio-Gonzalo, M. and M.D. Bovea, Environmental and cost performance of building’s envelope insulation materials to reduce energy demand: Thickness optimisation. Energy and Buildings, 2017. 150: p. 527-545.
  21. [21] Adams, M., et al., Bringing embodied carbon upfront: Coordinated action for the building and construction sector to tackle embodied carbon. World Green Building Council, 2019.
  22. [22] Shoubi, M.V., et al., Reducing the operational energy demand in buildings using building information modeling tools and sustainability approaches. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 2015. 6(1): p. 41-55.
  23. [23] Lowe, J.A., et al., UKCP18 science overview report. 2018, Met Office Hadley Centre: Exeter, UK. p. 1-73.
  24. [24] Moamin Al-Kakaei, et al., Climate Change Overview: Impacts, Mitigation, and Adaptation in Iraq. 2022, KAPITA.
  25. [25] Lee, W.-G., W.-S. Yim, and T. Lim, Analysis of Wind Environment and Energy Consumption by the Layout of Residential Buildings considering Wind Road. Journal of The Korean Society of Living Environmental System, 2023. 30(5): p. 509-515.
  26. [26] Mishaal, A., et al., The temporal and spatial distribution of wind factor in Iraq. Karbala International Journal of Modern Science, 2020. 6(1): p. 53-61.
  27. [27] Maglad, A.M., et al., Bim-based energy analysis and optimization using insight 360 (case study). Case Studies in Construction Materials, 2023. 18: p. e01755.
  28. [28] Tawfeeq, M.S., Insulation materials: Fundamentals and Applications. 2021.
Statistics
  • Article view49
  • Downloads1
  • Published at12 April 2026

  • RIS
  • BibTeX
  • EndNote
  • Mendeley
  • APA (7th edition)
  • MLA (9th edition)
  • Chicago
  • Harvard
  • IEEE
  • Vancouver