Generic Energy Efficiency Assessment for heritage buildings; Wekalat El-Ghouri as a case study, Cairo, Egypt

A study on Wekalat El-Ghouri, a historic building in UNESCO-listed Islamic Cairo, reveals that its original 40 cm brick walls offer superior energy efficiency compared to modern alternatives like 12 cm and 25 cm envelopes. Using eQuest simulations and a generic sustainability rating criterion, researchers found that the traditional design earned the highest green ratings, highlighting the enduring effectiveness of passive design strategies in heritage conservation. This case study underscores the potential for integrating historic architectural principles into sustainable building practices.

Fahmy, M., Mahmoud, S., Abdelalim, M., & Mahdy, M. (2019). Generic Energy Efficiency Assessment for heritage buildings; Wekalat El-Ghouri as a case study, Cairo, Egypt. Energy Procedia, 156, 166–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2018.11.122