Sustainability revolution responds to the great environmental crisis, global warming, and greenhouse gases
(GHG) emissions, thus the growing dangers of climatic change, in addition to the economic impact of raising the energy
and electricity prices by triple and more in last decade in both developed and advanced countries. Generally, building sector
represents the most energy consumer with up to (50%) of energy produced, thus There is no doubt it is the time to focus on
existing buildings, which contributes up to (30%) of global (GHG) emissions and consumes more (40%) of all energy
primarily through the operational phase [1].
Although, there are many green Retrofit strategies, technologies that could be imbedded into existing building, but the
capability of application in Egypt, with a compromised methodology for assessing with local available techniques and
materials, and even individual budget.
The research aims to propose a suitable methodology/matrix to help: [Owners –Tenants–Building Investors] to
differentiate among the most effective retrofit alternatives can applied to the existing residential spaces, to get both:
Reduction of Residential energy consumption, then become more green, and with-in accepted retrofit budget
compromised with the Egyptian market with conventional finishing systems and materials.
By the aid of reliable Information Technology tool (Energy Plus simulation engine –”Design Builder”)and the comparative
analytical study the research finds the priorities of space retrofit items were: Lighting alternatives, thenglazing alternatives,
thenshutters and window curtains are the most effective retrofit alternatives with (38%:25%) of energy reduction,
otherwise, the author space items such as:Ceilings, thenInternal Partitions, then flooring are the least effective / un-tangible
reduction in energy consumption percentage less than (5%:10%) compared to “Base-case” and prior to be applied as
retrofits alternatives to residential spaces. |
