Abstract
The present study simulates a residential building in a hot-humid climate. Phase change material (PCM) blocks were employed in the walls of the building. The building with PCM-block walls and a classical building were compared in terms of energy consumption for hot water, lighting, electricity (home appliances), and cooling in different months. Moreover, CO2 production during the year was comparatively analyzed for the buildings. Numerical simulations were carried out in EnergyPlus, while PCM melting was simulated in COMSOL. It was found that the use of a PCM in the walls reduced the energy consumption during the year. Cooling energy was higher in summer than in winter, whereas lighting was high in winter and low in summer. The PCM significantly affected cooling, particularly in winter, and hot water energy. CO2 production was higher in summer than in winter, and the use of a PCM in the walls diminished CO2 production; the building with PCM-block walls showed a reduction of 160 kg in the annual CO2 production.
•Investigating the effect of PCMs on the required energy and carbon dioxide production of a building.•Investigating the required energy of a house in different seasons in a warm environment.•Using Energy Plus and Comsol software to simulate the wall with PCM bricks of a house.•The use of the PCM in the walls reduced the CO2 production by 160 kg per year.