Awadh, Omair Fawzi2014-02-112014-02-112013-04110099http://bspace.buid.ac.ae/handle/1234/552High awareness of sustainability importance has been witnessed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the last few years. Sustainable development needs have set one of the bottom lines of Abu-Dhabi vision, the capital of the UAE. Construction industry was prioritized in this vision due to the huge expanding and developments that have been carried on in the area. Estidam is the sustainability pearl rating system for Abu-Dhabi’s construction. Guidelines are provided for buildings and communities. They include water and energy consumption regulations, eco-friendly materials, waste management, and insulation techniques. Construction and buildings industry are the cause of energy’s massive demands in the area. Therefore, reducing energy consumption during buildings’ life cycle contributes the most in CO2 emissions reduction. Sustainable principles adaptation at buildings’ design stage results the best in efficient building delivery, but existing buildings are important factor in the whole energy picture and has to be highlighted. The present study significance is to enhance existing buildings’ performance and at the same time improve regulators and buildings designers’ ability to adopt energy efficient practices.enshading devicesthermal transmittancesolar heat gainProject