New Software Developed at Joseph Ki-Zerbo University to Optimize Energy Consumption

Ouagadougou – Daouda Sawadogo presented a new calculation software as part of his doctoral thesis defense on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Joseph Ki-Zerbo University (UJKZ). This software is designed to evaluate the energy consumption within any built environment, allowing for a detailed analysis on daily, monthly, and yearly scales. The tool also measures the balance of greenhouse gas emissions.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the software utilizes systemic and typological approaches specifically for the UEMOA zone and can identify high-energy-consuming devices within a building. The presentation, titled “Energy balance of a space built by systemic and typological approaches in the UEMOA zone,” not only showcased the capabilities of the software but also extended an invitation to new students in the West African region to utilize the tool for their research. Dr. Sawadogo’s aim is to guide populations towards more energy-efficient practices.

The doctoral candidate received a very honorable mention from a jury of energy scientists for his work, which was conducted on the university campus of Patte d’Oie and a school complex in Saaba. The jury president, Professor Alfa Oumar Dissa, emphasized the timeliness of this work and its foundational role in managing energy consumption in buildings across the UEMOA area, where energy use in buildings accounts for nearly 46% of total consumption.

Thesis director Dr. Ousmane Coulibaly praised Sawadogo’s achievement as the first in West Africa to develop such a tool, noting its potential application by professional building engineers and architects to set energy consumption standards in the region. Dr. Coulibaly also outlined plans to seek further development and popularization of the software with support from energy development entities within UEMOA.