Greening Strategies for Improving Existing Residential Buildings’ Performance in Bahrain’s Tropical Desert Climate

Motaz Mestarehi; Najla Allani

Greening Strategies for Improving Existing Residential Buildings’ Performance in Bahrain’s Tropical Desert Climate

Abstract

Bahrain’s tropical desert climate significantly challenges existing buildings’ energy efficiency and indoor comfort. The residential sector in Bahrain consumes up to 48% of national energy production. Cooling accounts for up to 80% of domestic energy use. Moreover, existing buildings require envelope renovation, and one of the least intrusive methods is greening strategies. The study’s main objective is to assess the impact of retrofitting greening strategies on energy consumption and specify its optimum configuration. Simulations through DesignBuilder were conducted to model a typical housing unit in Bahrain. Results indicated that greening provides effective protection from solar radiation and reduces solar heat gains through building envelopes. Furthermore, the configuration of the green roof combined with the South and West green walls offered the best results in limiting indoor cooling energy demand. Findings suggest that retrofitting existing residential units could significantly reduce cooling loads and, therefore, reduce energy consumption.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Materials and Technology in Architecture, Sustainable Architecture

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Motaz Mestarehi This is me
0000-0001-7886-9070
Bahrain

Najla Allani
0000-0002-1970-4388
Bahrain

Publication Date

June 12, 2025

Submission Date

May 27, 2025

Acceptance Date

June 10, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 11 Number: 1

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA92RS75UM

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Mestarehi, M., & Allani, N. (2025). Greening Strategies for Improving Existing Residential Buildings’ Performance in Bahrain’s Tropical Desert Climate. A+Arch Design International Journal of Architecture and Design, 11(1), 19-33. https://izlik.org/JA92RS75UM

AMA

1.Mestarehi M, Allani N. Greening Strategies for Improving Existing Residential Buildings’ Performance in Bahrain’s Tropical Desert Climate. ARCH. 2025;11(1):19-33. https://izlik.org/JA92RS75UM

Chicago

Mestarehi, Motaz, and Najla Allani. 2025. “Greening Strategies for Improving Existing Residential Buildings’ Performance in Bahrain’s Tropical Desert Climate”. A+Arch Design International Journal of Architecture and Design 11 (1): 19-33. https://izlik.org/JA92RS75UM.

EndNote

Mestarehi M, Allani N (June 1, 2025) Greening Strategies for Improving Existing Residential Buildings’ Performance in Bahrain’s Tropical Desert Climate. A+Arch Design International Journal of Architecture and Design 11 1 19–33.

IEEE

[1]M. Mestarehi and N. Allani, “Greening Strategies for Improving Existing Residential Buildings’ Performance in Bahrain’s Tropical Desert Climate”, ARCH, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 19–33, June 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA92RS75UM

ISNAD

Mestarehi, Motaz - Allani, Najla. “Greening Strategies for Improving Existing Residential Buildings’ Performance in Bahrain’s Tropical Desert Climate”. A+Arch Design International Journal of Architecture and Design 11/1 (June 1, 2025): 19-33. https://izlik.org/JA92RS75UM.

JAMA

1.Mestarehi M, Allani N. Greening Strategies for Improving Existing Residential Buildings’ Performance in Bahrain’s Tropical Desert Climate. ARCH. 2025;11:19–33.

MLA

Mestarehi, Motaz, and Najla Allani. “Greening Strategies for Improving Existing Residential Buildings’ Performance in Bahrain’s Tropical Desert Climate”. A+Arch Design International Journal of Architecture and Design, vol. 11, no. 1, June 2025, pp. 19-33, https://izlik.org/JA92RS75UM.

Vancouver

1.Motaz Mestarehi, Najla Allani. Greening Strategies for Improving Existing Residential Buildings’ Performance in Bahrain’s Tropical Desert Climate. ARCH [Internet]. 2025 Jun. 1;11(1):19-33. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA92RS75UM