Noussaiba Rharbi

The building sector is a significant contributor to energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in rapidly urbanizing and climate-vulnerable regions like Morocco. This study evaluates the energy-saving potential of administrative buildings through a stage-wise parametric simulation approach applied to a real-world case in Marrakech, a city in a semi-arid zone. By sequentially assessing design-phase variables (orientation, compacity, courtyard layout), and usage-phase systems (HVAC types, lighting, occupancy), the study quantifies the relative impact of each phase on annual energy demand. Simulations were conducted using EnergyPlus through DesignBuilder, calibrated with local materials and climate data. The findings reveal that the usage phase, particularly temperature setpoints and HVAC strategies, exerts the greatest influence, reducing energy demand by up to 87.96% from the baseline. These results underscore the importance of integrative planning across all lifecycle stages and provide practical guidance for policymakers and practitioners aiming to comply with national thermal regulations and achieve energy-efficient public buildings in similar climatic contexts.

International building sustainability assessment tools (BSATs) offer a comprehensive framework for assessing environmental, economic, and social sustainability. However, these tools cannot fill the gap between their standards and the regional needs of developing countries such as Morocco. This paper presents a new framework to assess the sustainability of buildings in Morocco. The methodology proposed is the Fuzzy Delphi method to minimize the list of indicators with the help of 14 local experts and give an appropriate weight to the indicators and sub-indicators. The two-round analysis found a balanced weighting for the environmental, economic, and social dimensions, with the social pillar ranked highest in importance. A hierarchical framework of six consensus-based categories and 63 sub-indicators was developed. Consensus was measured using the dispersion threshold approach ≤ 0.2. The results show that waste and pollution (0.80), adaptability and resilience (0.78), and resources (0.75) are prioritized over the innovation category. Notably, sewage management, water reuse, and public infrastructure emerged as critical sub-indicators. A comparative evaluation against local BSATs from the region—Ethiopia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Oman—revealed convergence in core indicators like energy and water, yet divergence in economic and resilience criteria, reflecting regional specificities. This work contributes to the literature by presenting a validated, expert-driven assessment tool that aligns with local needs, offering a practical basis for national green certification and sustainable housing policy in Morocco and similar contexts.

Whether internationally or in Morocco, the construction industry is one of the world's most energy-consuming industries. Nationally, this sector is estimated to account for 33% of total energy consumption. In addition, the construction industry is one of the highest producers of GHG emissions. For these reasons, Morocco has taken steps to reduce the sector's impact on the economy and the environment. That's why the green sustainable cities trend has started in the last decade. Globalization trends and efforts to keep the concept of sustainability alive in a concrete city have brought along many conflicting choices. Moroccan cities are known for their strong identities due to the long process of shaping these cities throughout history. But new sustainability trends seem to introduce new colors that can strip them of their identity. This article is a research paper for the arid climate city of Benguerir, located in the South, one of the green cities of Morocco. Green represents a challenging context for implementing sustainability. This study reveals the different parameters of sustainability in cities, how important urban identity is, and how it can be perceived and discusses the transition and identity changes of cities. The case study exemplifies the Moroccan context, the reason behind the need for Moroccan green cities, the efforts of the government, and the problems green Moroccan cities may face when trying to preserve their identity. Benguerir is an example that has achieved various sustainability parameters and represents the policies of Moroccan green cities. The city can also represent upcoming challenges for cities in a similar context.