Energy Optimization for Affordable Housing via Microclimate and Energy Simulation, Case Study: Bashayer El Kheir 1, Alexandria, Egypt

Abstract

Nowadays, the residential sector consumes around 47% of all electricity production. The current need is to maximize the energy efficiency on the affordable housing, while the Egyptian government is focusing on constructing a large concrete block without concerning the environmental impact or energy efficiency. Combining the microclimate and building energy simulation results by testing them in the existing and futuristic climatic conditions. For microclimate scenarios the blue infrastructure shows the maximum air temperature reduction by 1.05 OC in the existing climatic conditions and 2.65 OC with the highest values of relative humidity, the combination of blue and green infrastructure shows average reduction by 1.02 OC in and 2.05 OC in existing and futuristic climatic conditions respectively, and the green infrastructure has the least effect of reduction by 0.7 OC and 1.30 OC. according to the building energy simulation, the tested retrofitting scenarios shows the highest energy reduction value by 11.34% for the wall insulation, 7.30% for double glazing, 6.65% by improving air infiltration, 5.07% for solar shading and 3.20% for the roof insulation. Estate developers required to present these settlements as Competitions for specialists in different fields respecting all the environmental aspects and the aesthetic values regardless the social levels.