<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The current rural dwelling pattern in the Delta in Egypt consumes much energy to achieve dwellers’ thermal comfort, increasing greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change threatening the region’s coastal parts. Therefore, this study highlights the potential of retrofitting the existing rural house utilizing pervasive construction technologies in diminishing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions as a climate change mitigation strategy. The current modern rural house and the construction typologies were characterized. This study selected a typical modern rural dwelling located in Al-Gharbia Governorate in the Delta region. The suggested retrofitting strategies were applied to the external building envelope. The impact on the annual energy consumption of cooling and heating loads was evaluated using an Energy Performance Assessment Tool (<italic>Design Builder</italic>). An optimal envelope configuration was suggested, then an economic assessment and an investigation to the local acceptance were provided. The results showed that using the commonly used construction techniques as a retrofitting strategy can plummet the energy consumption and CO2 emissions by one-third worthy of mentioning that the locals have shown a lack of interest in the investment in retrofitting their buildings as well as the economic model showed that the investment is not profitable. Further studies can be made by the author considering investigating different building typologies and engaging other stakeholders.</p>
</abstract>

The current rural dwelling pattern in the Delta in Egypt consumes much energy to achieve dwellers’ thermal comfort, increasing greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change threatening the region’s coastal parts. Therefore, this study highlights the potential of retrofitting the existing rural house utilizing pervasive construction technologies in diminishing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions as a climate change mitigation strategy. The current modern rural house and the construction typologies were characterized. This study selected a typical modern rural dwelling located in Al-Gharbia Governorate in the Delta region. The suggested retrofitting strategies were applied to the external building envelope. The impact on the annual energy consumption of cooling and heating loads was evaluated using an Energy Performance Assessment Tool (Design Builder). An optimal envelope configuration was suggested, then an economic assessment and an investigation to the local acceptance were provided. The results showed that using the commonly used construction techniques as a retrofitting strategy can plummet the energy consumption and CO2 emissions by one-third worthy of mentioning that the locals have shown a lack of interest in the investment in retrofitting their buildings as well as the economic model showed that the investment is not profitable. Further studies can be made by the author considering investigating different building typologies and engaging other stakeholders.

Retrofitting Rural Dwellings in Delta Region to Enhance Climate Change Mitigation in Egypt

Department of Planning, Design, and Technology of Architecture

Environmental and Climate Technologies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The current rural dwelling pattern in the Delta in Egypt consumes much energy to achieve dwellers’ thermal comfort, increasing greenhouse gas emissions...

Retrofitting Rural Dwellings in Delta Region to Enhance Climate Change Mitigation in Egypt

Published Online: Mar 23, 2021

Page range: 136 - 150

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2021-0009

Keywords
Economic analysis, energy efficiency, energy simulation tools, modern rural house, passive envelope, social acceptance

© 2021 Ahmed Abouaiana, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Retrofitting Rural Dwellings in Delta Region to Enhance Climate Change Mitigation in Egypt

Published Online: Mar 23, 2021

Page range: 136 - 150

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2021-0009

KeywordsEconomic analysis, energy efficiency, energy simulation tools, modern rural house, passive envelope, social acceptance

© 2021 Ahmed Abouaiana, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Economic analysis, energy efficiency, energy simulation tools, modern rural house, passive envelope, social acceptance