Ouagadougou: Student Wendwaogo Armel R©gis SAWADOGO, from the Doctoral School in Computer Science Applied to Climate Change at Joseph KI-ZERBO University, a research program supported by WASCAL, defended his master's thesis on Monday on the design of software for sizing air conditioning systems.

According to Burkina Information Agency, faced with rising temperatures caused by climate change, combined with rapid urbanization and improved living conditions, demand for air conditioning is rising sharply in Burkina Faso. To address this issue, Wendwaogo Armel R©gis Sawadogo developed a software program called "Heat Calculation," which allows for the scientific calculation of the heat balance of residential buildings, adapted to the national climate context.

The applicant stated that the construction sector still relies on methods that are often unsuitable for the local context for sizing air conditioning systems. The tool, based on the "IEPF" method, is intended to be accessible, simple, and adapted to the country's climatic realities.

"This innovation will be useful to building professionals, particularly architects and engineers, in carrying out more precise sizing," said thesis director, Professor Ousmane COULIBALY.

The software was tested in three cities representative of the different climatic zones of Burkina Faso: Dori (Sahelian zone), Ouagadougou (Sudanese-Sahelian zone), and Bobo-Dioulasso (Sudanese zone), with results deemed conclusive.

Professor COULIBALY noted that decision-makers would benefit from adopting this software for wider distribution, with a view to significantly contributing to reducing the national energy bill.

The jury, composed of Dr Didier BASSOLE (president), Pr Ousmane COULIBALY (thesis director), Dr Kisito KABORE (co-thesis director), and Dr Tubreoumya Guy (examiner), praised the innovation for its potential to strengthen energy efficiency in Burkina Faso, amidst urban and climatic change, and awarded it a score of 18/20.