Building Sustainability: Achieving LEED Certification for a Hotel in Rabat, Morocco

Green building practices have gained significant importance in addressing climate change and environmental degradation. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program serves as a recognized third-party verification system, acknowledging buildings that demonstrate high levels of environmental performance and sustainability. This research aimed to evaluate the performance of a hotel building in Rabat, Morocco, which had achieved LEED Gold certification, with a focus on energy consumption, water savings by evaluating the EAc2, EAc5, and WEc2 credits, along with the integrative process credit of LEED v4. In the initial stages of the project, within the LEED certification framework, an energy simulation was conducted to guide major design decisions. The study employed DesignBuilder software, version 7.0.0.096, to determine the building's energy requirements accurately and identify optimal characteristics and configurations for improved performance. Additionally, an IES-VE building energy simulation software was used to demonstrate energy reduction, while a dedicated calculator was employed to showcase water savings. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of LEED certification strategies on energy consumption and water usage reduction, emphasizing the importance of these categories in achieving sustainable building practices.