Role of Local Building Materials on the Energy Behaviour of Habitats in Ouagadougou

The present work is a contribution to the energy efficiency in the habitats by the valorization of the local building materials in Burkina Faso. A comparative numerical study on the thermal behavior and energy consumption of some habitats in local and modern building materials is carried out. The simulations were carried out using computer code written in FORTRAN language over a period of one year. Analysis of the results shows that habitats in local construction materials (BTC, BLT, adobe) have a better thermal response compared to modern building materials (hollow cinder block). Generally speaking, the temperature and humidity profiles obtained do not make it possible to ensure the summer comfort in these buildings throughout the year. The evaluation of air-conditioning loads to ensure thermal comfort in these habitats shows that they are higher respectively in the blocks, BLT, BTC, adobe constructions. We therefore consider that local building materials represent a good alternative for the search for energy efficiency in buildings.