Sustainable Energy Management in Institutional Buildings
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47067/ramss.v9i1.643Keywords:
Energy Efficiency, RET Screen, Institutional Buildings, Energy Management, Net Zero Energy BuildingsAbstract
The primary aim of this study is to advance an institutional building toward net-zero energy through strategic energy management. This research specifically targets reduced electricity use and maximized energy efficiency. Inefficient lighting and fans were replaced with high- efficiency alternatives. RET Screen software modeled energy consumption and predicted cost savings. Results demonstrate significant electricity and cost reductions after system upgrades, with measurable gains in overall energy performance. These outcomes confirm that retrofitting electrical equipment is a cost-effective, practical strategy to pursue net-zero energy and curtail institutional energy demand.
References
T. B. Vishwa, P. Shwetha, and A. Mohammed, “A Comprehensive Study on Principles and Strategies for Sustainable Net Zero Energy Building Design,” World Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology and Sciences, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 406–416, 2025, doi: 10.30574/wjaets.2025.17.3.1576.
N. Akram, Dr. N. Blouch, Dr. A. M. Malik, F. Sher, R. Mukhtar, and W. R. Khan, “Building Performance Analysis and Optimization: A Study on Energy Efficiency and Sustainability,” Social Science Review Archives, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 702–712, 2025, doi: 10.70670/sra.v3i4.1161.
A. Khan, A. A. Khuhro, A. A. Memon, and A. A. Memon, “An Investigation to Reduce Electricity Bills using Inverter AC in Pakistan,” Sir Syed University Research Journal of Engineering & Technology, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 7–12, 2022, doi: 10.33317/ssurj.466.
A. M. Allah, J. Iqbal, and S. Amjad, “Organizational level energy conservation and efficiency - a case of public sector organization in Karachi, Pakistan,” Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology, vol. 43, no. 1, p. 119, 2024, doi: 10.22581/muet1982.2401.2756.
A. Ragunath and P. Syal, “Net Zero Energy Buildings Initiatives - A Review,” International Research Journal on Advanced Science Hub, vol. 4, no. 11, pp. 267–271, 2022, doi: 10.47392/irjash.2022.067.
C. S. Anyanwu, O. Akinsooto, O. B. Ogundipe, and S. Ikemba, “NET-ZERO ENERGY BUILDINGS: A PATH TO SUSTAINABLE LIVING,” Engineering Heritage Journal, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 7–113, 2024, doi: 10.26480/gwk.02.2024.107.113.
B. Mujahid, “Energy Conservation Potential of Building Envelope: A Simulation based Comparative Analysis for Residential Buildings of Lahore, Pakistan,” Journal of Development and Social Sciences, vol. 3, no. III, 2022, doi: 10.47205/jdss.2022(3-III)33.
H. Riaz, N. Amina, I. Shahbaz, R. Asif, H. Mohsin, and A. Irfan, “Green Retrofitting of Educational Building for Enhancing the Building’s Performance (Retrofitting of IBM building UET Lahore),” in 2023 6th International Conference on Energy Conservation and Efficiency (ICECE), IEEE, Mar. 2023, pp. 1–6. doi: 10.1109/ICECE58062.2023.10092496.
M. R. Maghami, A. Maghoul, K. F. Thang, and S. Sundaram, “Net zero energy buildings: An overview of passive and active designs,” Energy Reports, vol. 14, pp. 1327–1348, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.egyr.2025.07.028.
S. A. Jiskani, S. A. Shaikh, Q. A. Memon, M. A. Bhutto, M. F. Shaikh, and M. Kumar, “Electrical Energy Audit and Analysis of Energy Conservation Opportunities at University Buildings,” in 2023 4th International Conference on Computing, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies (iCoMET), IEEE, 2023, pp. 1–7. doi: 10.1109/iCoMET57998.2023.10099073.
W. Feng et al., “A review of net zero energy buildings in hot and humid climates: Experience learned from 34 case study buildings,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 114, p. 109303, Oct. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2019.109303.
M. A. Mengaw, W. J. Mengesha, and H. B. Madessa, “Recent Progress in Net-Zero-Energy Buildings in Tropical Climates: A Review of the Challenges and Opportunities,” 2025, pp. 1003–1013. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-69626-8_84.
S. Arif, J. Taweekun, H. M. Ali, D. A. I. Yanjun, and A. Ahmed, “Feasibility study and economic analysis of grid connected solar powered net zero energy building (NZEB) of shopping mall for two different climates of Pakistan and Thailand,” Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, vol. 26, p. 101049, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.csite.2021.101049.
S. U.-D. Khan, I. Wazeer, and Z. Almutairi, “Comparative Analysis of SAM and RETScreen Tools for the Case Study of 600 kW Solar PV System Installation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,” Sustainability, vol. 15, no. 6, p. 5381, Mar. 2023, doi: 10.3390/su15065381.
A. Yasin, B. Qutaina, and S. Al-Saqqa, “Enhancing Energy Efficiency in a Palestinian Dairy Factory Utilizing RETScreen Expert,” An-Najah University Journal for Research - A (Natural Sciences), vol. 38, no. 2, pp. 118–124, 2024, doi: 10.35552/anujr.a.38.2.2209.
I. Razzaq et al., “Reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions by retrofitting an existing building to a net zero energy building for the implementation of SDGs 7 and 13,” Front. Environ. Sci., vol. 10, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2022.1028793.
L. S. Riantini, R. A. Machfudiyanto, T. S. N. Rachmawati, M. D. A. Rachman, R. Fachrizal, and F. Shadram, “Energy Efficiency Analysis of Building Envelope Renovation and Photovoltaic System in a High-Rise Hotel Building in Indonesia,” Buildings, vol. 14, no. 6, p. 1646, 2024, Doi: 10.3390/buildings14061646.





