DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.185789.1 ISSN: 2046-1402

Improving Thermal Comfort Performance of Mediterranean Higher-Education Buildings via PCM-Integrated Envelope Retrofit: A Case Study of the AASTMT Campus, Marsa Matruh, Egypt.

Mariam Assem ELTanany, Nermine Hany, Gihan Mosaad
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Background Educational buildings in Egypt are predominantly cooling-dominated, and their envelope design and operation strongly affect both energy use and indoor environmental quality. The present study explores the energy retrofit strategy of existing higher educational building in the Mediterranean climate as a sustainable approach. This issue is particularly significant in Marsa Matruh, where energy demand is high and knowledge of energy-efficient practices is relatively low. This research focuses on incorporating phase change materials (PCMs) within external wall and roof assemblies to enhance thermal comfort and improve building energy efficiency, thereby minimizing the requirement for mechanical air-conditioning during the summer season. Methods The research comprises six chapters covering the research background, aim and objectives, methodology, and relevant literature on higher education buildings in Mediterranean climatic regions. It examines building energy consumption challenges and explores building envelope retrofit strategies, focusing on PCMs as a passive thermal improvement measure. A case study is conducted using Design Builder v7.0.2.006 integrated with the EnergyPlus v9.4 simulation engine to assess the effectiveness of RT25HC PCM integrated into external walls and roof assemblies of a higher education facility. Results The findings show that RT25HC PCM improves thermal comfort in educational buildings under free-running conditions. Among the evaluated cases, Scenario 5, featuring a 40 mm PCM layer on the exterior side of the external wall, emerged as the most effective configuration, resulting in a 7.65% reduction in annual discomfort hours compared with the base case and demonstrating the greatest potential for lowering cooling energy demand. Conclusion In summary, this study demonstrates that RT25HC PCM can enhance indoor thermal comfort while lowering energy consumption in higher education buildings. Using a representative university building, the research develops retrofit strategies that can provide as a practical framework for improving the energy performance of similar educational buildings within Egypt’s Mediterranean coastal cities.

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