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.

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May 6th, 4:00 PM

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.