Achieving Environmental Sustainability in Existing University Buildings through an Effective Retrofitting and Rating System

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Winter 2-7-2026

Abstract

The  aging  infrastructure  of  Egyptian  university  buildings  presents  pressing  environmental  and  operational  challenges  that undermine sustainability efforts and energy efficiency across higher education campuses. In response to the urgent need for sustainable retrofitting, this study aims to develop an integrated assessment tool that guides the renovation of existing  university  buildings  based  on  internationally  recognized  environmental  standards  adapted  to  local  context.  The  research  adopts  a  mixed-methods  approach,  including  a  comprehensive  literature  review  of  global  and  regional  rating  systems, analytical comparisons of retrofitting methods, and a case study application supported by simulation modeling. The  study  particularly  emphasizes  the  integration  of  three  major  rating  systems  (Leadership  in  Energy  and  Environmen-tal)  LEED  v5  for  Operations  and  Maintenance  existing  Buildings  rating  System  standards,  The  Egyptian  Green  Pyramid  rating  system  (GPRS  v2),  and  An  Indian  Green  Building  Council  (IGBC)  Existing  Building  Rating  System  to  formulate  a  hybrid  evaluation  framework  tailored  for  Egyptian  university  campuses.  A  key  contribution  of  this  research  lies  in  the  development  of  a  customized  assessment  tool  capable  of  calculating  categorical  scores  across  sustainability  metrics  such  as energy efficiency, water use, indoor environmental quality, and material sustainability. The tool was validated through its application to the retrofitting project of Thebes Academy, where measurable improvements were observed particularly in energy performance, thermal comfort, and resource optimization. The findings underscore the effectiveness of the pro-posed  tool  in  guiding  sustainable  interventions  within  the  constraints  of  existing  university  buildings.  More  broadly,  the  study aligns its findings with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The analysis also reflects Egypt’s progress toward these global goals, supporting the national direction toward developing greener and more  resilient  educational  infrastructure.

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