Analyzing energy efficiency: A case Study of Mosul - a comparative examination of traditional and contemporary architectural styles

In recent years, energy and environmental issues have attracted worldwide attention. Irreversible natural disasters may occur due to uncontrolled use of energy resources and environmental pollution. The practice of energy conservation is an important part of the design and occupancy plans for buildings and strategies in general, as studies indicate that half of the energy consumed by humans takes place inside buildings. Residential buildings are among the types of buildings that consume energy, the largest percentage of which is to provide thermal comfort through heating and cooling devices, which leads to the consumption of large amounts of energy, and from here the research problem emerged: how to reduce energy consumption inside buildings in Mosul? One of the most effective and accurate ways to actually calculate and model energy in buildings before construction begins is through the universal use of computer simulation programs. The aim of this study is to present a detailed presentation of the basic features of traditional houses in the city of Mosul, as it examines building plans, features of the outer shell, materials used and construction techniques, and to find out which traditional or contemporary building strategies are more energy efficient by using Autodesk Revit and Green Building Studio programs to compare energy consumption, cost, lighting, ventilation, and annual CO2 emissions for traditional and contemporary buildings, as the research indicates the importance of building energy modeling before starting the construction process to know the amount of energy needed in the building. The results of modeling showed that traditional buildings use less energy and cost less across a range of criteria than contemporary buildings. Hence, the ideal technologies for residential buildings are determined and a guide is reached on the design of environmentally friendly residential buildings in the city of Mosul.