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Optimizing Existing Multistory Building Designs towards Net-Zero Energy

Author

Listed:
  • Mohammad Y. AbuGrain

    (Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus, Famagusta, Mersin 10, Turkey)

  • Halil Z. Alibaba

    (Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus, Famagusta, Mersin 10, Turkey)

Abstract

Recent global developments in awareness and concerns about environmental problems have led to reconsidering built environment approaches and construction techniques. One of the alternatives is the principle of low/zero-energy buildings. This study investigates the potentials of energy savings in an existing multi-story building in the Mediterranean region in order to achieve net-zero energy as a solution to increasing fossil fuel prices. The Colored building at the Faculty of Architecture, Eastern Mediterranean University, Cyprus was chosen as a target of this study to be investigated and analyzed in order to know how energy efficiency strategies could be applied to the building to reduce annual energy consumption. Since this research objective is to develop a strategy to achieve net-zero energy in existing buildings, case study and problem solving methodologies were applied in this research in order to evaluate the building design in a qualitative manner through observations, in addition to a quantitative method through an energy modeling simulation to achieve desirable results which address the problems. After optimizing the building energy performance, an alternative energy simulation was made of the building in order to make an energy comparison analysis, which leads to reliable conclusions. These methodologies and the strategies used in this research can be applied to similar buildings in order to achieve net-zero energy goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammad Y. AbuGrain & Halil Z. Alibaba, 2017. "Optimizing Existing Multistory Building Designs towards Net-Zero Energy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:3:p:399-:d:92446
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Halil Alibaba, 2016. "Determination of Optimum Window to External Wall Ratio for Offices in a Hot and Humid Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-21, February.
    2. Ilkan, M. & Erdil, E. & Egelioglu, F., 2005. "Renewable energy resources as an alternative to modify the load curve in Northern Cyprus," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 555-572.
    3. Roberts, Simon, 2008. "Altering existing buildings in the UK," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(12), pages 4482-4486, December.
    4. AlAjmi, Ali & Abou-Ziyan, Hosny & Ghoneim, Adel, 2016. "Achieving annual and monthly net-zero energy of existing building in hot climate," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 511-521.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cirrincione, Laura & Malara, Cristina & Marino, Concettina & Nucara, Antonino & Peri, Giorgia & Pietrafesa, Matilde, 2020. "Effect of the thermal storage dimensions on the performances of solar photovoltaic-thermal systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 2004-2018.
    2. Ruey-Lung Hwang & Hung-Chi Chiu, 2025. "A Case Study-Based Framework Integrating Simulation, Policy, and Technology for nZEB Retrofits in Taiwan’s Office Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-19, July.
    3. Jiaxi Luo, 2022. "A Bibliometric Review on Artificial Intelligence for Smart Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-22, August.
    4. Hardi K. Abdullah & Halil Z. Alibaba, 2017. "Retrofits for Energy Efficient Office Buildings: Integration of Optimized Photovoltaics in the Form of Responsive Shading Devices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-22, November.
    5. Aiman Albatayneh & Renad Albadaineh & Adel Juaidi & Ramez Abdallah & Alberto Zabalo & Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro, 2022. "Enhancing the Energy Efficiency of Buildings by Shading with PV Panels in Semi-Arid Climate Zone," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-23, December.

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