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Cooling load reduction strategies for community worship place towards attaining sustainability: a life cycle cost perspective

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The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
Authors:
Fatima Anwar
Fatima Anwar
Fatima Anwar
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Sohail Malik at NIT, SCEE, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
Sohail Malik
  • NIT, SCEE, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
Mughees Aslam
Mughees Aslam
Mughees Aslam
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Rai Waqas Azfar Khan at National University of Sciences and Technology
Rai Waqas Azfar Khan
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Abstract and Figures

Purpose The prominence of energy conservation in worship buildings like mosques, temples, and churches has led many nations to enact regulations for enhanced energy efficiency. However, the upfront costs often deter decision-makers. This research focuses on mosques, investigating cooling load reduction strategies and assessing their long-term cost dynamics. Methods To address the challenge of meeting energy requirements for community worship places, with mosques as a case study, this research conducted a comprehensive investigation. Various cooling load reduction strategies, both active and passive, are assessed to understand their impact on long-term cost dynamics. DesignBuilder V7.0.2 software is used for simulations. Results and discussion In a hot and dry climate context, this research carefully selected strategies like external shading, exterior wall insulation, R10 polystyrene roof insulation HRBLUE2 windows, night ventilation practices, and LED lighting systems, steered by environmentally aware construction principles. The objective is to determine the optimum means of management of cooling loads through a delicately adjusted cooling load strategy. Moreover, the life cycle cost related to those cooling strategies is determined. The recommendation includes implementation of strategies that effectively reduce cooling loads, decrease life cycle cost, and improve overall performance, specifically adapted for mosque environments. Conclusion This research emphasizes the crucial necessity for practicing sustainability in the construction of community buildings utilized for worship and the significance of energy conservation. By investigating cooling load decreasing strategies for mosques and their corresponding long-term cost implications, it suggests valuable solutions for addressing the energy needs of such places. The findings emphasize the importance of executing strategies that reduce cooling loads efficiently along with improving overall performance and minimize.
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Vol.:(0123456789)
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment (2025) 30:301–317
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-024-02393-9
EXERGY ANDLCA
Cooling load reduction strategies forcommunity worship place
towardsattaining sustainability: alife cycle cost perspective
FatimaAnwar1· MuhammadSohailAnwarMalik1 · MugheesAslam1· RaiWaqasAzfarKhan1
Received: 14 December 2023 / Accepted: 4 October 2024 / Published online: 15 November 2024
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024
Abstract
Purpose The prominence of energy conservation in worship buildings like mosques, temples, and churches has led many
nations to enact regulations for enhanced energy efficiency. However, the upfront costs often deter decision-makers. This
research focuses on mosques, investigating cooling load reduction strategies and assessing their long-term cost dynamics.
Methods To address the challenge of meeting energy requirements for community worship places, with mosques as a case
study, this research conducted a comprehensive investigation. Various cooling load reduction strategies, both active and
passive, are assessed to understand their impact on long-term cost dynamics. DesignBuilder V7.0.2 software is used for
simulations.
Results and discussion In a hot and dry climate context, this research carefully selected strategies like external shading,
exterior wall insulation, R10 polystyrene roof insulation HRBLUE2 windows, night ventilation practices, and LED light-
ing systems, steered by environmentally aware construction principles. The objective is to determine the optimum means
of management of cooling loads through a delicately adjusted cooling load strategy. Moreover, the life cycle cost related to
those cooling strategies is determined. The recommendation includes implementation of strategies that effectively reduce
cooling loads, decrease life cycle cost, and improve overall performance, specifically adapted for mosque environments.
Conclusion This research emphasizes the crucial necessity for practicing sustainability in the construction of community
buildings utilized for worship and the significance of energy conservation. By investigating cooling load decreasing strategies
for mosques and their corresponding long-term cost implications, it suggests valuable solutions for addressing the energy
needs of such places. The findings emphasize the importance of executing strategies that reduce cooling loads efficiently
along with improving overall performance and minimize.
Keywords Sustainability· Cooling load reduction strategies· Energy conservation· Life cycle cost perspective
1 Introduction
In the times of global warming up from fossil fuels,
decreased dependency of buildings on energy bears an
effective solution. While energy use has transformed
human life (Owusu & Asumadu-Sarkodie 2016), over
dependence on non-renewable energy sources has resulted
serious environmental threats. Preserving energy is vital for
establishing a sustainable environment. Global awareness
campaigns have been highlighting the need for energy con-
servation to reduce rising temperatures caused by carbon
emissions. This research focused on mosques as a subject of
investigation, offering innovative strategies to address envi-
ronmental concerns. When a sustainable idea is embraced
within a religious context, it can spread more quickly and
significantly affect the lives of individuals (Buddhism—Bri-
tannica 2023). Green buildings, including green mosques,
are favored for their longer lifespan, reduced operational
costs, and enhanced energy efficiency (Sharma etal. 2011).
In mosques, promoting sustainability involves reducing their
cooling load, which is a key aspect of green mosque design
(Hu and Skibniewski, 2021). Introducing efficient mosque
Communicated by: Edeltraud Guenther
* Muhammad Sohail Anwar Malik
sohailmalik72@gmail.com; samalik@mce.nust.edu.pk
1 Department ofConstruction Engineering andManagement
(CE&M), Military College ofEngineering (MCE), National
University ofSciences andTechnology (NUST), Risalpur
Campus, Risalpur, Pakistan
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
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