Effect of insulation type and material on the heating energyrequirements of buildings in desert areas: a case study in Adrar region

This paper investigates the effect of insulation type and material on the heating loads of buildings in the Adrar region. The study is based on a university professor's residence with a surface area of 90 m2. The heating loads of the building were calculated by modelling the different heat transfer patterns in the room and recreating the heat transfer equations used in the energy balance for each material in the room, considering the dimensions of the building, the material properties of the walls, ceilings and windows, and the differences in outside temperatures on the hottest day. The results obtained showed that the heating loads of the walls represent 56% of the total heating needs and that using clay instead of an air gap in double-skin walls reduces the heating load by 34%.