COST EFFICIENT SUSTAINABLE STRATEGY FOR RETROFITTING SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS IN EGYPT

Abstract

ABSTRACT Retrofitting approach is seeking to improve the building performance to extend the life span period of the building. Moreover, it saves the building capital and value compared to demolishing that building to build a new one. Hence, retrofitting is considered an effective means that works to preserve buildings. This research is conducted for existing buildings in Egypt by choosing the high-rise building construction in Cairo, dated from 1980 s to 1990 s, which was the time of economic growth in Egypt. These buildings are considered as significant national treasures with their culture, use, or even age values, but with low and outdated insulation levels. Some of these buildings are still used today, while other buildings suffer from degradation problem. At the age of 30 to 40 years, facades reached the end of their technical life span and these buildings have been recognized as an inefficient consumer of costs. Particularly in high-rise buildings, façades are unfortified to face the climate change due to their exposure and unfavorable volume in terms of their surface facades. Consequently, energy consumption proportionately increases with high running costs of mechanical systems and it needs an improvement through facade retrofitting without compromising its value. Despite there are many studies that discussed the façade retrofitting in practicability, there are no rigor results that investigated or proceeded in aspects related to a synthetic strategy configuration as creative way that contributes the scientific methods in evaluating the façade retrofitting efficiency. This research focuses on understanding the synthetic strategy configuration’s dimensions and their measurements indicator variables, as any change in these variables directly affects the level of façade retrofitting’s efficiency. Seeking to fill the gaps of retrofitting practicability knowledge.