Energy Retrofit of Existing Building Stock in Amman: State of the Art, Obstacles and Opportunities

Energy security is one of the most important challenges Jordan is currently facing, as it imports 96% of its energy resources from foreign countries. Together with other sectors, the existing building stock is responsible for high energy consumption, as average energy performance levels are much lower than the standards prescribed in the recent Jordanian Energy Efficient Building Code. Addressing issues related to energy retrofitting will assist the country to develop effective plans to reduce the energy consumption of buildings and, therefore, decrease the associated energy costs on a large scale, thus helping Jordan’s sustainable development. This paper aims to provide a better understanding of the current situation of the building sector and the energy performance of existing buildings in Amman, identifying issues, obstacles and opportunities to be considered for retrofitting this stock. The paper also provides a critical reflection on interviews with six local experts in the fields of architecture and engineering, including governmental and non-governmental institutions, making recommendations and suggesting possible directions for future research.