Thermally Efficient Clay Bricks Incorporating Mushroom Cultivation Waste for Sustainable Construction in Hot-Arid Climates

This investigation examines the integration of Mushroom Cultivation Waste (MCW) as a sustainable additive in clay brick manufacturing for hot-arid climate applications, with New Aswan, Egypt, serving as the case study location. Comprehensive laboratory analyses evaluated the mechanical, physical, and thermal characteristics of MCW-incorporated bricks across varying concentrations (0–15% by weight). Results demonstrated that optimal MCW content of 15% achieved substantial thermal conductivity reduction of 62%, decreasing from 0.77 to 0.293 W/m·K, while preserving sufficient compressive strength (8.6 MPa) suitable for non-structural applications. Energy performance modeling through parametric simulations indicated that north-facing building facades constructed with 15% MCW-enhanced bricks exhibited 14.3% decreased annual cooling energy requirements relative to conventional brick systems. The findings establish that MCW-modified bricks enhance thermal performance, contribute to agricultural waste valorization, and advance circular economy implementation in construction practices. This research provides evidence-based recommendations for sustainable building material development in hot-arid environmental conditions, demonstrating practical waste-to-resource conversion applications.