Passive Energy: How New Construction Methods and Materials Can Improve Kurdistan’s Energy Consumption

Introduction 

Buildings, residential and commercial, account for 40% of global energy consumption, with an annual growth of 2.2%.¹ Heating and cooling systems consume 50% of this energy.² In extreme climates such as that of the Middle East³, cooling and heating devices are needed all year long, consuming a large amount of energy that not only raises electricity costs but also increases carbon emissions levels. This paper focuses on the Kurdistan Region in the north of Iraq, where the climate is relatively extreme in summer and winter seasons. The region has cold and dry winters, as well as very hot summers, especially from the months of June to September, where the temperature can reach above 50 degrees Celsius on some days.⁴ The growing demand on residential areas and lack of electricity production due to economic trouble, as well as the absence of refined renewable energy resources, necessitate new approaches that focus on using new and innovative construction methods and materials. 

Passive Energy is a method of saving energy in which a design requires a small input of energy to reach an optimal outcome. Even such designs are not completely passive and require a little bit of energy, but the idea is using intelligent designs to achieve an energy-saving building that needs very little heating or cooling to reach a comfortable point in any season⁵.  

In modern urban societies, new methods of energy conservation in commercial buildings and residential households are used, which yield favorable results. In this sense, it is important to evaluate their applicability in the Kurdistan Region, given the already changing and rapidly urbanized environment.  

Using construction methods and efficient materials, while applying passive energy methods of cooling and heating, can be an integral part of the urban structure and the key solution to combat climate change and extreme weather events.  

Brief Historical Overview: 

Iraq is the center of a rich cultural history and home to over 10,000 historical architectural sites of ancient civilizations such as Babylonian, Sumerian, and Akkadian⁶. However, many of these remains were destroyed because of continued wars and political crises such as the US-led invasion of Iraq to overthrow Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003. More recently, the barbaric attacks by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have caused irreversible damage to historical sites in places like Baghdad, Nineveh, Mosul, and Babylon. 

Reconstruction efforts to restore and protect key sites, as well as creating settlements for the 5 million displaced citizens, have been underway since 2003. Following international pledges of 33 billion dollars to support rebuilding Iraq. So far, progress has been slow, and Iraq continues to struggle with infrastructure progress. 

The Effects of Climate Change: 

Climate change, such as extreme weather and temperature shifts, can significantly impact the construction sector of a certain geographical location. For instance, it can accelerate structural deterioration and increase heating and cooling demands, resulting in increased carbon emissions. Yet, there is no system for integrating climate change impacts in environmental analysis such as life cycle assessments (LCAs) for infrastructures.  

It is estimated that climate change can reduce the lifespan of houses and buildings by up to 20 years due to factors such as corrosion and extreme weather like heat, floods, earthquakes, and strong winds. There is a need for a shift towards more climate responsive building designs.⁷ 

As climate change introduces new environmental challenges, these must be factored into the construction of new buildings. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) has witnessed increased temperature rise over the years; this is creating a massive energy demand for cooling. There are numerous construction methods and materials that can be used to create buildings that need less energy for cooling and heating without the need for constant renovations.   

The Nature of KRI’s Construction Sector: 

The construction sector is crucial to the economy of KRI due to its large size and influence on other sectors, such as materials industries and employment. Iraq’s local material production cannot keep up with the overwhelming demands of this rapidly growing sector, which has led to the domination of the industry by private sector firms. The construction sector is valued at $2.8 Billion, and Turkish companies dominate 65% of the sector. This has created dependence on the importation of vital construction materials such as cement, bricks, glass, gypsum, pipes, tiles, windows, and doors.⁸ Dependency on imports from countries like Turkey and Iran has made it difficult for KRI’s construction sector to rely on itself to produce construction materials suitable for the Region’s environment, as there is a lack of study on the suitable materials.  

Adapting Passive House Principles 

One of the most popular methods for energy efficiency through construction is the Passive House standard. Passive House buildings are known for their ability to drastically reduce energy consumption by minimizing heating and cooling needs using insulation, internal heat sources, and heat recovery. This approach makes conventional heating and cooling systems unnecessary, even during the coldest winters and hottest summers. According to the Passive House Institute, the annual energy demand for heating and cooling in a Passive House is only 15 kWh compared to the average house that spends 100-150 kWh. Buildings in Kurdistan do not use the same materials used in an average house in developing countries, resulting in a poorly insulated house that requires 300 kWh.⁹ The rest of the Passive House performance requirements are shown below: 

This method of building houses can be particularly beneficial for the KRI, where energy conservation is crucial due to fluctuating electricity and steadily increasing summer temperatures. By reducing reliance on active heating and cooling systems, this method offers a sustainable solution for Kurdistan, helping to lower energy costs while providing comfortable living spaces year-round. The Passive House standard, originating in Germany, emphasizes the following five key principles the building must follow:  

1. Thermal Insulation
2. Eliminating Thermal Bridges
3. High-Performance Glazing
4. Airtightness and Ventilation
5. Optimized Orientation

These principles work together to create an energy-efficient and comfortable living environment. Here's a closer look at each one in detail: 

1. Thermal Insulation: A Passive House building must be very well insulated using proper insulation materials on each of its surfaces. The building walls, roof, and floor must be enveloped in continuous insulation materials that limit heat transfer to a thermal transmittance (U-value) of no more than 0.15 W/m²K. This helps in keeping the inside warm when the temperature is low outside and cool when the temperature is high outside, to reduce the energy needed for cooling and heating devices. 

Many buildings in the KRI are built with bricks (U-value = 2.0 W/m²K) or cinder blocks (U-value = 1.75 to 2.25 W/m²K). Sometimes a layer of insulation material is added for more protection, but even so, there is a big amount of energy loss through the walls. Passive House standard recommends the following insulation materials be added to the structure for more protection. The materials can be divided into three groups¹¹:  

a. Mineral insulation (made from natural materials)

b. Synthetic insulation (made from fossil fuels)

c. Organic insulation (made from plant or animal materials) 

A Passive House constructed in Qatar, an area known for its high temperatures, used Thermostone for the wall structure instead of hollow concrete bricks (which is commonly used for buildings in the KRI); this led to a 25% energy reduction and a 30% decrease in costs due to using the Thermostone. The production of better-quality raw materials can offer not only energy efficiency advantages but also economic advantages if given proper research and study. 

The table below shows the construction materials used for a standard house in the KRI, in Ashti City 2 in Erbil, according to the Iraqi construction code.¹³ As shown, the current U-value is very high, resulting in significant heat transfer. To address this, stronger insulation materials, such as EPS or XPS foam, should be used, alongside improved reinforcement for the roof, which is the most prone to heat leaks. Applying a liquid Polyurethane solution over the roof construction materials, will insulate the area effectively. 

An improved example of wall construction should incorporate a concrete block paired with a layer of EPS foam, a cement layer covered by a protective mesh layer and a final protection layer of cement, to significantly enhance insulation. As shown in the figure below: 

2. Eliminating Thermal Bridges: A building does not consist of one continuous layer of construction, but it also has edges, turns, corners, connections, and penetrations. These points in a building are called thermal bridges. A thermal bridge is a weak point in the building envelope that allows heat to pass through more easily.  

Thermal bridges also give opportunities for moisture to be trapped, which can lead to mold generation. Thermal bridges occur when the continuous layer of insulation is interrupted because of a change of direction in the building, such as a corner of the wall, a connection between the wall and the roof, and added balconies.¹⁵ This creates a "bridge" between the inner and outer faces of the building for heat to escape or get in. To eliminate the chances of creating thermal bridges, detailed planning is essential to create a straightforward architectural design with a small number of corners and turns, as complex shapes are more prone to thermal bridges. For example, if a balcony is added to a house, the structure will penetrate the insulation layer where the balcony floors and walls connect to the building, creating a big thermal bridge. A better design would be to connect a free-standing balcony to the exterior face or front of a building as to not interrupt the continued layer of insulation, as shown in the image below:

Additionally, extra layers of insulation should be added to areas where thermal bridges are likely to occur, reinforcing these vulnerable spots. The figure below shows how an uninsulated corner loses notable energy, while adding more layers of insulation reduces heat loss and enhances the building's thermal protection. 

3. High-Performance Glazing: When creating a highly insulated enveloped building, the windows and doors must not be forgotten. Due to their function (providing light, visibility, and access) windows and doors cannot be insulated as effectively as a wall, resulting in being the weakest areas of the envelope in terms of resisting heat loss. Yet, windows are very necessary in a Passive House as they are very useful in utilizing the sun. Daylight can provide natural heating in cold seasons as well as proper lighting to reduce electrical lighting energy.  

Window placement is a very important part of the building planning process; windows facing east or west can lead to overheating. It is important to consider window orientation, as well as installing window shades if needed, to receive the most amount of sun during cold seasons and the least amount during warm seasons. According to Passive House standards, the temperature of the surface of the window should not be below 17 degrees Celsius in cold temperatures without the help of heating devices.  

It is very important to use high-performance Passive House-certified windows and doors. The windows must be either double or triple paned, depending on the location’s atmosphere and orientation of the house, with argon or krypton gas between the panes to further increase insulation. Passive House requires a window with a U-value of no more than 0.85 W/m²K. The slimmer the window frame the better, as the insulation of the glass is higher than the frames, which is why the amount of frame should be no more than 40% of the entire window. It is also important to invest in highly insulated doors, preferably certified by the Passive House Institute.  

4. Airtightness and Ventilations: Passive Houses must have a balance of airtightness and ventilation. To achieve an airtight building, every air leakage point should be addressed and sealed properly to prevent winter heat loss and summer heat gain through gaps and joints. This not only saves heating energy, but it also creates a comfortable home that experiences healthy indoor air quality and prevents moisture damage and mold growth that can lead to structural damage. 

However, as buildings become more airtight, the need for good ventilation grows. Ventilation provides the house with clean, controlled air, eliminating any unwanted pollutants, odor, moisture, and outside pollen. This creates a sufficient level of oxygen and helps remove pollution such as carbon dioxide and other contaminants in the air of the house.  

Choosing the appropriate type of ventilation system depends on the local climate of the house. The KRI faces a very high level of air pollution, yet many houses and buildings do not invest in proper ventilation systems. Mechanical ventilation systems such as heat recovery ventilators and energy recovery ventilators are the most popular types of mechanical ventilators. The only difference between the two systems is that while heat recovery ventilator recovers heat only, the energy recovery ventilator recovers both heat and humidity, helping to control indoor moisture levels¹⁶. Which makes it more efficient to get an energy recovery ventilator if the building or house faces very dry winters and moist summers to ensure the utmost indoor comfort. 

Having an airtight building with a proper ventilation system controls the flow of clean air and effortlessly removes moisture, drafts, and cold corners, ensuring high-quality indoor air and comfort.¹⁷ 

5. Optimized Orientation:  Orientation is the position of your house relative to the direction of the sun. Optimized orientation is important to reduce cooling and heating needs by relying on the sun. Ideally, the building must be receiving the most amount of sun in winter when the sun is the lowest in the sky, and the least amount of sun in the summer when the sun is the highest in the sky and vice versa, as shown in the figure below¹⁸.  

For optimal orientation, it is necessary to review the building’s climate zone. For instance, the Kurdistan Region aligns with the principles of the Northern Hemisphere; the sun is southward, which means it is the most optimal to orient the house facing the south direction for the most sun in winter and the least sun in the summer. It is better to avoid having windows facing the east and west sides because they can receive intense sunlight during the summer.¹⁹ 

Retrofitting Existing Buildings 

For existing buildings, it is much more difficult to adhere to Passive House standards because of the existing structure. Which is why the Passive House Institute introduced the Enterphit standard. Passive House cannot always be achieved to an existing building because of factors like house orientation, unavoidable thermal bridges such as basement walls, added balcony, construction with many turns and interruptions in the insulation layer, and more. For those who want to retrofit their house to save as much energy as possible, following the Enterphit standard is recommended. Enterphit follows many principles of Passive House design. Such as insulating walls and replacing doors and windows with those approved by Passive House. Finally, implementing a high-quality ventilation system is essential for optimal performance. 

More energy is required to reach a comfortable temperature level inside a house following the Enterphit standard, but it can still save up to 75% energy compared to non-retrofitted or even new local houses. It is guaranteed that the reduced energy demand will ensure the return of the investment in the retrofit process. There will also be an uplift in property value thanks to the modern modifications.  

The standards a building must meet to adhere to Enterphit are as follows:²⁰

Net Zero Energy House 

Another energy-saving construction method is the net zero energy house design. This is a house or building that produces as much energy as it uses yearly, making it a zero energy-cost house. The net zero energy house follows green energy principles to reduce emissions by using renewable energy methods, the most popular being solar energy, where solar panels are added to the roof of the house. This helps the house create as much energy as the household spends. Adapting net zero energy in the KRI can also be beneficial against power outages that are commonly experienced in the area. Combining the principles of Passive House and net zero energy houses can create a very comfortable, energy-efficient, and sustainable house. By integrating the airtight construction and thermal insulation of Passive House with the energy generation capabilities of net zero energy houses, it becomes easy to reach net zero energy. In fact, the application of all the Passive House principles is not necessary for significant changes in energy efficiency to become noticeable.²¹ 

The Impact of Cultural Needs on Housing Development: 

Cultural traditions have shown to influence house occupancy, comfort level, and energy usage. Research shows that introducing foreign concepts and new technology without coordinating with the local cultural, societal, and gender norms, may lead to an increase in energy usage and the need for future renovations.²²

A lot of the modern construction designs in the KRI are modeled after western designs. However, adapting to more western designs is not preferred culturally, as they do not provide households with much privacy. While Kurdish families value privacy and a large number of rooms in a house, western model designs are wider and have more open floor plans, which are not favored in the Middle East. These factors should be taken into consideration while designing.  

There are many ways to involve the residents of the building in the design process to create a more satisfactory result for everyone. For example, educating them on how energy flows within their house and how everything is affected. Additionally, introducing a transparent and flexible billing system will provide residents with more accurate bills, making them feel more secure and confident in their energy usage. Most importantly, when conducting energy audits, it is important to help the residents in identifying sources of energy losses and maximizing energy savings through detailed, ongoing assessments.²³ 

Financial Challenges 

The cost of each different project can vary depending on the size, complexity of the design, materials used, the engineers and workers involved, and many other variables. According to the Passive House Institute, building a Passive House style house can cost about 5-10% more than an average modern house, although sometimes it reaches 7-15 %, this rate will increase for buildings in the KRI as the average houses built here are much cheaper than the average modern houses in first world countries. 

While the construction cost of energy efficient houses is a lot higher than the average ones, significant savings can be gained in the long run through energy conservation and reduced future renovation needs. To save even more energy, a lot of houses build solar panels on their roof and sell it back to the grid to make the extra income. One family in Massachusetts, USA had done just that. They have built an energy saving house with solar panels creating a zero net energy house. They spend around $400 a year on energy usage,²⁴ compared to the average energy spent in a Massachusetts household recorded at $1,520.64.²⁵ Ultimately, investing in energy-efficient construction pays off both financially and environmentally. 

Today, many countries encourage green building practices and the reduction of carbon emissions nationwide. For instance, in Ireland, by building or retrofitting a house that receives a Passive House certificate, the country’s sustainable energy authority will fund 50% of the cost of retrofit. Similarly, in many states in the US, homeowners who implement energy saving techniques and insulation materials are eligible for government grants and tax breaks. These incentives not only encourage sustainable living but also make it more accessible and affordable for homeowners. 

Policy Recommendations 

To have comprehensive governmental polices for creating more energy-efficient houses, the following are recommended²⁶: 

1. Clear Government Role: Define a clear and concise role for the government in the housing sector, focusing on setting standards, regulations, and providing oversight to ensure energy efficient construction practices.
2. Housing Finance System: Establish a strong housing finance system to offer affordable loans, grants, and incentives that encourage homeowners and engineers to adopt energy saving construction methods and technologies. 
3. Broad Choices: Provide KRI developers and home builders with a wider range of construction options, including energy efficient materials and sustainable construction techniques, to meet different needs and budgets. 
4. Support for Local Factories: Create opportunities and provide financial support for establishing local materials factories, ensuring affordable access to high-quality, energy-efficient building materials that are suitable for the Region’s climate. 
5. Green Energy Department: Establish a Green Energy Department to supervise energy efficient housing policies, promote renewable energy, and coordinate efforts to reduce carbon emissions in buildings and households. This department will also provide guidance and financial support to individuals trying to implement energy saving construction methods but face high costs or lack knowledge of where to begin. By leading these initiatives, the Region will gain international recognition for its progress in going green, opening the door for expanding this success to the rest of Iraq. 

These policies will foster sustainable development, reduce environmental impact, and ensure more affordable, energy efficient housing for the Region. 

Conclusion 

• In regions like the Middle East, cooling significantly increases electricity costs and carbon emissions, The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) faces challenges from growing housing demands, economic struggles, and a lack of sufficient renewable energy resources. 

• Passive energy designs, which require low energy input, improve building efficiency. A passive house is a building designed to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature year-round with minimal energy consumption, using new construction methods and materials. It follows five main principles; thermal insulation, thermal bridge elimination, airtight construction and effective ventilation systems, high-performance glazing, and optimized orientation.  

• The government should support the housing industry by establishing a clear role for it in national planning, implementing financial initiatives to fund sustainable housing, and fostering the growth of local industries dedicated to producing energy-efficient materials. Additionally, the creation of a Green Energy Department would be essential in advancing renewable energy and promoting sustainable development across the sector. 

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