From simulation to construction: optimization of materials and energy in sustainable housing with BIM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37135/ns.01.16.07Keywords:
bim, energy efficiency, construction materials, Sustainability, social housingAbstract
Energy efficiency and sustainability in social housing depend on material selection. This study explores the potential of using Building Information Modeling (BIM) in combination with sustainable materials to identify strategies that could reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint in tropical climates based on digital analysis conducted during the design phase. A social housing unit was modeled using Revit 2025, and its thermal and environmental performance was evaluated through Revit Insight. Additionally, a database was developed to compare the thermal, mechanical, and environmental properties of both conventional and sustainable materials. Simulation results indicate that bamboo, with thermal conductivity of 0.12 W/m·K and thermal resistance of 8.33 m²·K/W, and enhanced glass, with 0.78 W/m·K and 1.28 m²·K/W, show better thermal performance and lower environmental impact compared to structural concrete (1.75 W/m·K, 0.57 m²·K/W, and 150 kg CO₂/m²). Steel, with 50.2 W/m·K and 250 kg CO₂/m², is identified as the material with the highest environmental impact. The optimized housing model reduced thermal envelope energy consumption from 85 kWh/m²/year to 70 kWh/m²/year, with an estimated 20% decrease in cooling demand. It is concluded that integrating BIM with structured material databases supports decision-making in architectural design and promotes the development of more efficient and sustainable housing solutions in tropical regions.
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