Date of Defense
6-5-2025 4:00 PM
Location
F1-1124
Document Type
Thesis Defense
Degree Name
Master of Science in Architectural Engineering
College
COE
Department
Architectural Engineering
First Advisor
Dr. Young Ki Kim
Keywords
Building retrofitting, energy consumption, implementation barriers, challenges, UAE sustainability.
Abstract
The UAE’s built environment significantly impacts sustainability due to its high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, necessitating effective retrofitting strategies to improve the efficiency and performance of aging buildings. This research aims to identify the barriers, challenges, and opportunities associated with implementing retrofitting strategies in the UAE, providing insights to guide policymakers and stakeholders toward sustainable practices. A mixed-method approach was adopted, including comprehensive literature reviews, stakeholder surveys, and interviews. The results reveal significant barriers such as high upfront costs (reported by 68% of respondents), limited awareness among building owners (54%), and fragmented regulations, including inconsistencies in thermal insulation standards across emirates. Additionally, 46% of participants highlighted the absence of standardized methodologies as a major hurdle. Despite these challenges, the research emphasizes opportunities to leverage supportive policies and advancements in retrofitting technologies to achieve energy savings and environmental benefits. This study significantly contributes by offering a structured framework for addressing these barriers and promoting retrofitting in the UAE. It fills a critical gap in region-specific research, enabling the development of tailored solutions for enhancing sustainability in the built environment.
Included in
IDENTIFYING BARRIERS, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF IMPLEMENTING RETROFITTING STRATEGIES IN EXISTING BUILDINGS IN THE UAE
F1-1124
The UAE’s built environment significantly impacts sustainability due to its high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, necessitating effective retrofitting strategies to improve the efficiency and performance of aging buildings. This research aims to identify the barriers, challenges, and opportunities associated with implementing retrofitting strategies in the UAE, providing insights to guide policymakers and stakeholders toward sustainable practices. A mixed-method approach was adopted, including comprehensive literature reviews, stakeholder surveys, and interviews. The results reveal significant barriers such as high upfront costs (reported by 68% of respondents), limited awareness among building owners (54%), and fragmented regulations, including inconsistencies in thermal insulation standards across emirates. Additionally, 46% of participants highlighted the absence of standardized methodologies as a major hurdle. Despite these challenges, the research emphasizes opportunities to leverage supportive policies and advancements in retrofitting technologies to achieve energy savings and environmental benefits. This study significantly contributes by offering a structured framework for addressing these barriers and promoting retrofitting in the UAE. It fills a critical gap in region-specific research, enabling the development of tailored solutions for enhancing sustainability in the built environment.