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A Building Retrofit and Sensitivity Analysis in an Automatically Calibrated Model Considering the Urban Heat Island Effect in Abu Dhabi, UAE

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Listed:
  • Lindita Bande

    (Architectural Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15258, UAE)

  • Adalberto Guerra Cabrera

    (Integrated Environmental Solutions, Glasgow G20 0SP, UK)

  • Young Ki Kim

    (Architectural Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15258, UAE)

  • Afshin Afshari

    (Department of Energy Efficiency and Indoor Climate, Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Mario Favalli Ragusini

    (Integrated Environmental Solutions, Glasgow G20 0SP, UK)

  • Melanie Gines Cooke

    (School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Herriot Wat University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK)

Abstract

Villas are a very common building typology in Abu Dhabi. Due to its preponderance in residential areas, studying how to effectively reduce energy demand for this type of building is critical for Abu Dhabi, and many similar cities in the region. This study aims to show the impact of proposed energy efficiency measures on a villa using a calibrated model and to demonstrate that to be accurate, the model must be driven using urban weather data instead of rural weather data due to the significance of the urban heat island effect. Available data for this case study includes construction properties, on-site (urban) weather data, occupancy-related loads and schedules and rural weather data. Four main steps were followed, weather data customisation combining urban and rural weather variables, model calibration using a genetic algorithm-based tool and simulating retrofit strategies. We created a calibrated model for electricity demand during 2016–2017 with a 4% normalized mean bias error and an 11% coefficient of variation of the mean square error. Changing from none to all retrofit strategies results in a 34% reduction in annual energy consumption. According to the calibrated model, increased urban temperatures cause a 7.1% increase in total energy consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Lindita Bande & Adalberto Guerra Cabrera & Young Ki Kim & Afshin Afshari & Mario Favalli Ragusini & Melanie Gines Cooke, 2019. "A Building Retrofit and Sensitivity Analysis in an Automatically Calibrated Model Considering the Urban Heat Island Effect in Abu Dhabi, UAE," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-18, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:24:p:6905-:d:294183
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gago, E.J. & Muneer, T. & Knez, M. & Köster, H., 2015. "Natural light controls and guides in buildings. Energy saving for electrical lighting, reduction of cooling load," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 1-13.
    2. AboulNaga, Mohsen M. & Elsheshtawy, Yasser H., 2001. "Environmental sustainability assessment of buildings in hot climates: the case of the UAE," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 24(3), pages 553-563.
    3. Fonseca, Jimeno A. & Schlueter, Arno, 2015. "Integrated model for characterization of spatiotemporal building energy consumption patterns in neighborhoods and city districts," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 247-265.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lindita Bande & Abeer Alshamsi & Anoud Alhefeiti & Sarah Alderei & Sebah Shaban & Mohammed Albattah & Martin D. Scoppa, 2021. "Parametric Design Structures in Low Rise Buildings in Relation to the Urban Context in UAE," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-23, August.
    2. Maatouk Khoukhi & Abeer Fuad Darsaleh & Sara Ali, 2020. "Retrofitting an Existing Office Building in the UAE Towards Achieving Low-Energy Building," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-16, March.
    3. Hiba Najini & Mutasim Nour & Sulaiman Al-Zuhair & Fadi Ghaith, 2020. "Techno-Economic Analysis of Green Building Codes in United Arab Emirates Based on a Case Study Office Building," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-22, October.
    4. Ahmed, Wahhaj & Asif, Muhammad, 2021. "A critical review of energy retrofitting trends in residential buildings with particular focus on the GCC countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).

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