Improving the Energy Efficiency of Residential Green Heritage Buildings

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), The amount of energy consumed in the residential buildings in the United States in 2014 estimated at more than one and a half times the total energy is consumed by commercial and administrative buildings, therefore, improving the energy efficiency in existing residential Buildings, and rely on alternative sources of renewable energy will have a positive impact on reducing the use of fossil fuels energy and their emissions. Many countries have paid a great attention on set or develop their criteria for assessment the existing green residential buildings especially the energy efficiency. Now, there are hundreds of existing residential Buildings (including listed heritage buildings) have been certifies as green buildings. Egypt as other countries needs to reduce its great energy consumption of Fossil fuels. It has rich with heritage assets that variety in their values, ages, usage and styles. Despite that, the most of the conservation strategies that deal with the residential heritage Buildings in Egypt don’t care to improve the energy efficient performance of them. Despite of establishment of Green Pyramid Rating system that can be used for evaluating green new constructions only, and don't be applicable on all types of existing buildings. The paper aims to perform a comparison study between the criteria and applications of the LEED and BREEAM which have been usedto assess energy efficiency of the residential heritage buildings. The results will help to improve the energy efficiency of residential heritage buildings in Egypt without harming or losing its heritage features and values