Reduce the Impact of Thermal Bridges on the Energy Demand of Buildings through Environmentally-Friendly Insulation

It has been clearly demonstrated that thermal bridges exert a significant impact on the energy performance of buildings. This study focuses on three types of thermal bridge elements: conventional thermal bridges, those fitted with interior sisal fiber insulation, and those with exterior insulation using the same environmentally-friendly material. The primary objective is to minimize the building's energy requirements. Subsequently, the cooling demand in Marrakech, a city subject to considerable energy demand in summer, was assessed using CFD simulations in ANSYS. The aim of this study was to analyze in depth the impact of exterior/interior insulation systems on heat loss through thermal bridges. The results of this research provide crucial data for assessing the thermal characteristics of thermal bridges in building design, ensuring stabilization of interior surface temperature, especially in the case of exterior insulation. Significantly, remarkable energy savings of 53% and 72% were observed for interior and exterior insulation, respectively. These findings illustrate the importance of choosing the right external thermal insulation method to optimize the energy efficiency of buildings' thermal bridges, particularly in demanding climatic environments such as Marrakech. Furthermore, they underline the growing relevance of ecological approaches in the design and construction of sustainable, energy-efficient structures.