Optimizing Energy Efficiency in Existing Public Schools Through Computational Modeling | ||
| JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences | ||
| Article 15, Volume 54, Issue 2, March and April 2026 | ||
| Document Type: Research Paper | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jesaun.2025.403633.1611 | ||
| Author | ||
| mohamed M hassan* | ||
| مصر / الجيزة / الهرم | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Globally, buildings are experiencing a significant surge in energy consumption due to climate change and rapid population growth. Within the Egyptian context, the building sector accounts for approximately 66-74% of total electricity consumption (Egyptian Electricity Holding Company, 2024), necessitating a comprehensive revision of Egypt's building codes to incorporate sustainable design standards that mitigate this excessive consumption. This is particularly critical for educational buildings, which constitute a substantial portion of this consumption share. This study employs an integrated digital modeling methodology to enhance energy efficiency in educational buildings located in hot climatic zones. The research proposes implementing the Nearly Zero-Energy Building (nZEB) concept, which combines energy conservation strategies through optimization of the building envelope's thermal properties with the integration of renewable energy solutions. The methodology was applied to a case study of a public school in Hurghada City, Red Sea Governorate. Multiple scenarios were evaluated, including: Thermal insulation improvements for roofs and walls Enhanced window and opening efficiency Optimization of HVAC systems Integration of photovoltaic solar systems The results After implementing the redesign scenario for Al-Bahr Al-Ahmar School in Hurghada demonstrate a potential 45% reduction in energy consumption through building envelope improvements alone, with the possibility of achieving up to 65% energy savings when renewable energy systems are incorporated. This study provides a methodological framework that can be generalized to educational buildings in hot-arid regions, while accounting for site-specific climatic characteristics. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Energy Efficiency; Near-zero energy buildings (nZEB); Hot climate; Public schools; Thermal insulation | ||
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