Optimizing energy and carbon emissions in Egyptian residential buildings using simulation‐based EDGE standards

Sustainable design focuses on enhancing environmental quality and improving indoor conditions while minimizing negative impacts. This study optimizes energy consumption and carbon emissions by examining the influence of building orientation and thermal insulation in Egyptian residential buildings. The objective is to identify the optimal thermal insulation thickness for building envelopes based on Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) standards. Simulations were performed in 11 cities (Aswan, Cairo, Alexandria, Hurgada, Sharm El Sheikh, Luxor, Port Said, El Dakhla, El Quesir, Ismailia, and Suez) spanning six climate zones with various facade orientations and climatic conditions. The results demonstrate that applying extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation reduces cooling energy consumption by 11% to 67%, influenced by climate conditions, local habits, and building orientation. Additionally, carbon emissions decrease by 3.9% to 11.26%, while annual cost savings per building range from 1,319 to 3,710 EGP, emphasizing the economic and practical benefits of sustainable practices. These findings provide essential guidelines for reducing energy demand and improving thermal efficiency in Egyptian residential buildings. The study’s insights contribute to urban planning strategies, national energy policies, global sustainability goals, and raising awareness of energy-efficient solutions, supporting energy-efficient design and fostering sustainable urban development across diverse regions and climatic environments effectively.

可持续设计致力于提升环境质量、改善室内条件，同时最大限度减少负面影响。本研究通过分析埃及住宅建筑中建筑朝向与隔热措施的影响，优化能源消耗与碳排放。研究目标是依据卓越设计提升能效标准（Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies, EDGE），确定建筑围护结构的最优隔热层厚度。在覆盖六个气候区的11座城市（阿斯旺、开罗、亚历山大、赫尔格达、沙姆沙伊赫、卢克索、塞得港、达赫拉、库赛尔、伊斯梅利亚和苏伊士）中，针对不同立面朝向与气候条件开展了模拟研究。结果表明，采用挤塑聚苯乙烯（extruded polystyrene, XPS）隔热材料可使制冷能耗降低11%至67%，这一效果受气候条件、当地习惯与建筑朝向的影响。此外，碳排放减少3.9%至11.26%，单栋建筑年成本节约额介于1319至3710埃及镑（EGP）之间，凸显了可持续实践的经济与实用价值。这些发现为降低埃及住宅建筑的能源需求、提升热效率提供了关键指导。本研究的洞见有助于优化城市规划策略、完善国家能源政策、推进全球可持续发展目标，并提升公众对节能解决方案的认知，从而有效支持不同区域与气候环境下的节能设计，促进可持续城市发展。