Sustainable Architecture and Energy Efficiency a University Campus Project in Fez City, Morocco

Abstract

The building sector happens to be a major player in climate change through energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the climate change impacts negatively buildings by reducing thermal comfort. To reach this comfort buildings need energy. This situation makes building sector among the most energy consuming sectors. Thus, the challenge is how to adapt buildings to climate change by being energy efficient, and by producing their own electricity. Environmental and energy issues have been a topic of growing concern in Morocco which is endowed with high potential for renewable energy resources, but not yet very well exploited in the building sector. Today the country realizes that and takes its first steps toward sustainable development through several initiatives and measures developed by the government. However, increasing environmental awareness among citizens can be crucial to adapting and reducing climate change, by encouraging people to change their perceptions and behavior. Therefore the educational system and its environment can be the most effective way to promote lasting ecological citizenship among college students. The present paper analyses the impact of the human and social dimensions of sustainable development and proposes a university campus architectural project. The main objective of the paper is to provide favorable conditions for studying and to encourage universities and educational systems to integrate sustainability into their teaching and especially into their functioning. This project aims to introduce construction techniques that ensure better thermal comfort and help lowering building energy consumption.