Energy Consumption in Residential Buildings Located in Rural Area Through Utilizing BIM: Effect of Building Materials

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is increasingly recognized worldwide as a powerful tool that enhances productivity in the construction industry. By digitally representing building data, BIM helps reduce construction time and costs while improving project quality. This study investigates energy consumption in residential buildings located in rural areas of Iraq using BIM tools, specifically Revit and Insight 360°. In this study, three houses constructed with different materials were analyzed for their energy performance. Energy consumption was assessed using BIM simulations, and indoor temperature was measured manually over a 315-minute period using thermometers. The results showed that the average Energy Use Intensity (EUI) for house (01), house (02), and house (03) was found to be 145, 162, and 170 kWh/m²/year, respectively. These simulation results closely matched the recorded temperature data in terms of energy loss, supporting the accuracy of the software's predictions. Based on the findings, it is recommended that rural construction projects prioritize materials with better thermal insulation to significantly reduce energy consumption.