IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v11y2018i9p2465-d170255.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Enhancing Green Building Rating of a School under the Hot Climate of UAE; Renewable Energy Application and System Integration

Author

Listed:
  • Joud Al Dakheel

    (Architectural Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box, 15551 Al Ain, UAE)

  • Kheira Tabet Aoul

    (Architectural Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box, 15551 Al Ain, UAE)

  • Ahmed Hassan

    (Architectural Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box, 15551 Al Ain, UAE)

Abstract

Similar to many fast growing countries, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) witnessed fast population and urbanization growth. The building sector accounts for a major share of its electricity consumption, reaching up to 70%. To encourage sustainable development and reduce energy consumption and emissions, the government introduced a sustainability initiative called “Estidama”, which employs the use of the Pearl Building Rating System (PBRS). Government buildings, which constitute 20% of the built environment, aim to lead the way, and are therefore required to attain a high level of achievement, based on their PBRS ranking (minimum of two out of five pearls). Schools, led by Abu Dhabi Educational Council (ADEC), are governmental buildings and aim to attain a higher level of achievement (three out of five pearls). The ADEC plans to build one hundred schools to be built by 2020, through its Future Schools Program. Over half of the schools have been completed, but only 20% reached the targeted rating (of three out of five pearls). The Renewable Energy (RE) application in the UAE is minimal, although it represents 25% of the local rating code. The objective of this paper is to explore the sustainable performance of one representative school that did not reach the desired green rating level, with the objective to assess opportunities for an enhanced performance. This is done through testing the performance and the application of three RE systems comprising of photovoltaics (PV) array, an absorption cooling system and a geothermal cooling system through Transient Systems Simulation (TRNSYS) software. Cumulatively, implementation of these options results in RE potentially contributing to 19% of the school’s annual energy consumption, enhancing the school’s performance by up to 14 additional credit points, and reaching the target level of achievement (a three pearl rating). Furthermore, system integration of RE into the existing school were also considered. Results indicate the significant potential of integrating RE systems in future schools in hot climatic contexts, for an improved energy performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Joud Al Dakheel & Kheira Tabet Aoul & Ahmed Hassan, 2018. "Enhancing Green Building Rating of a School under the Hot Climate of UAE; Renewable Energy Application and System Integration," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:9:p:2465-:d:170255
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/9/2465/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/9/2465/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mokhtar, Marwan & Ali, Muhammad Tauha & Bräuniger, Simon & Afshari, Afshin & Sgouridis, Sgouris & Armstrong, Peter & Chiesa, Matteo, 2010. "Systematic comprehensive techno-economic assessment of solar cooling technologies using location-specific climate data," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(12), pages 3766-3778, December.
    2. Alnaser, W.E. & Alnaser, N.W., 2011. "The status of renewable energy in the GCC countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(6), pages 3074-3098, August.
    3. Quesada, B. & Sánchez, C. & Cañada, J. & Royo, R. & Payá, J., 2011. "Experimental results and simulation with TRNSYS of a 7.2Â kWp grid-connected photovoltaic system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(5), pages 1772-1783, May.
    4. Friess, Wilhelm A. & Rakhshan, Kambiz, 2017. "A review of passive envelope measures for improved building energy efficiency in the UAE," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 485-496.
    5. Safa, Amir A. & Fung, Alan S. & Kumar, Rakesh, 2015. "Heating and cooling performance characterisation of ground source heat pump system by testing and TRNSYS simulation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 565-575.
    6. Sgouridis, Sgouris & Abdullah, Ayu & Griffiths, Steve & Saygin, Deger & Wagner, Nicholas & Gielen, Dolf & Reinisch, Hannes & McQueen, Dane, 2016. "RE-mapping the UAE’s energy transition: An economy-wide assessment of renewable energy options and their policy implications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1166-1180.
    7. Annukka Berg, 2011. "Not Roadmaps but Toolboxes: Analysing Pioneering National Programmes for Sustainable Consumption and Production," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 34(1), pages 9-23, March.
    8. Patlitzianas, Konstantinos D. & Doukas, Haris & Psarras, John, 2006. "Enhancing renewable energy in the Arab States of the Gulf: Constraints & efforts," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(18), pages 3719-3726, December.
    9. Jafarkazemi, Farzad & Saadabadi, S. Ali, 2013. "Optimum tilt angle and orientation of solar surfaces in Abu Dhabi, UAE," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 44-49.
    10. Doukas, Haris & Patlitzianas, Konstantinos D. & Kagiannas, Argyris G. & Psarras, John, 2006. "Renewable energy sources and rationale use of energy development in the countries of GCC: Myth or reality?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 755-770.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Natthanon Phannil & Chaiyan Jettanasen & Atthapol Ngaopitakkul, 2018. "Harmonics and Reduction of Energy Consumption in Lighting Systems by Using LED Lamps," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-27, November.
    2. 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.
    3. Daniel Efurosibina Attoye & Timothy O. Adekunle & Kheira Anissa Tabet Aoul & Ahmed Hassan & Samuel Osekafore Attoye, 2018. "A Conceptual Framework for a Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) Educative-Communication Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-21, October.
    4. Ayyagari Ramani & Borja García de Soto, 2021. "Estidama and the Pearl Rating System: A Comprehensive Review and Alignment with LCA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-31, April.
    5. Umar Khayam & Arpan Zaeni & Kevin Marojahan Banjar-Nahor & Deny Hamdani & Ngapuli Irmea Sinisuka & Pascal Dupuis & Georges Zissis & Laurent Canale, 2023. "Status of Lighting Technology Application in Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-33, April.
    6. Marcochi de Melo, Diego & Villavicencio Gastelu, Joel & Asano, Patrícia T.L. & Melo, Joel D., 2022. "Spatiotemporal estimation of photovoltaic system adopters using fuzzy logic," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 1188-1196.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sgouridis, Sgouris & Abdullah, Ayu & Griffiths, Steve & Saygin, Deger & Wagner, Nicholas & Gielen, Dolf & Reinisch, Hannes & McQueen, Dane, 2016. "RE-mapping the UAE’s energy transition: An economy-wide assessment of renewable energy options and their policy implications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1166-1180.
    2. Mokri, Alaeddine & Aal Ali, Mona & Emziane, Mahieddine, 2013. "Solar energy in the United Arab Emirates: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 340-375.
    3. Griffiths, Steven, 2017. "A review and assessment of energy policy in the Middle East and North Africa region," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 249-269.
    4. Reiche, Danyel, 2010. "Energy Policies of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries--possibilities and limitations of ecological modernization in rentier states," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(5), pages 2395-2403, May.
    5. Ramli, Makbul A.M. & Twaha, Ssennoga, 2015. "Analysis of renewable energy feed-in tariffs in selected regions of the globe: Lessons for Saudi Arabia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 649-661.
    6. Radhi, Hassan, 2012. "Trade-off between environmental and economic implications of PV systems integrated into the UAE residential sector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 2468-2474.
    7. Taleb, H.M. & Pitts, A.C., 2009. "The potential to exploit use of building-integrated photovoltaics in countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 1092-1099.
    8. Tsai, Sang-Bing & Xue, Youzhi & Zhang, Jianyu & Chen, Quan & Liu, Yubin & Zhou, Jie & Dong, Weiwei, 2017. "Models for forecasting growth trends in renewable energy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 1169-1178.
    9. Ramli, Makbul A.M. & Twaha, Ssennoga & Al-Hamouz, Zakariya, 2017. "Analyzing the potential and progress of distributed generation applications in Saudi Arabia: The case of solar and wind resources," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 287-297.
    10. Eveloy, Valerie & Gebreegziabher, Tesfaldet, 2019. "Excess electricity and power-to-gas storage potential in the future renewable-based power generation sector in the United Arab Emirates," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 426-450.
    11. Juaidi, Adel & Montoya, Francisco G. & Gázquez, Jose A. & Manzano-Agugliaro, Francisco, 2016. "An overview of energy balance compared to sustainable energy in United Arab Emirates," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1195-1209.
    12. Mondal, Md. Alam Hossain & Hawila, Diala & Kennedy, Scott & Mezher, Toufic, 2016. "The GCC countries RE-readiness: Strengths and gaps for development of renewable energy technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1114-1128.
    13. Atalay, Yasemin & Kalfagianni, Agni & Pattberg, Philipp, 2017. "Renewable energy support mechanisms in the Gulf Cooperation Council states: Analyzing the feasibility of feed-in tariffs and auction mechanisms," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 723-733.
    14. Tarek Ben Hassen & Hamid El Bilali & Mohammed Al-Maadeed, 2020. "Agri-Food Markets in Qatar: Drivers, Trends, and Policy Responses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-31, May.
    15. J. Sadhik Basha & Tahereh Jafary & Ranjit Vasudevan & Jahanzeb Khan Bahadur & Muna Al Ajmi & Aadil Al Neyadi & Manzoore Elahi M. Soudagar & MA Mujtaba & Abrar Hussain & Waqar Ahmed & Kiran Shahapurkar, 2021. "Potential of Utilization of Renewable Energy Technologies in Gulf Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-29, September.
    16. Wang, Yang & Zhang, Shanhong & Chow, David & Kuckelkorn, Jens M., 2021. "Evaluation and optimization of district energy network performance: Present and future," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    17. Nkwetta, Dan Nchelatebe & Sandercock, Jim, 2016. "A state-of-the-art review of solar air-conditioning systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1351-1366.
    18. Rahman, Syed Masiur & Khondaker, A.N., 2012. "Mitigation measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon capture and storage in Saudi Arabia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 2446-2460.
    19. Alyami, Saleh. H. & Rezgui, Yacine & Kwan, Alan, 2013. "Developing sustainable building assessment scheme for Saudi Arabia: Delphi consultation approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 43-54.
    20. Arouri, Mohamed El Hedi & Ben Youssef, Adel & M'henni, Hatem & Rault, Christophe, 2012. "Energy consumption, economic growth and CO2 emissions in Middle East and North African countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 342-349.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:9:p:2465-:d:170255. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.