Simulation-supported energy retrofit in historic educational buildings: Ziya Gökalp Elementary School
Keywords:
Historic building, Energy retrofit, Building simulation, Thermal comfort, Carbon emissionAbstract
Energy retrofitting of historic buildings is important for sustainability. However, this is a difficult task due to regulations aimed at preserving historical values. This study aims to develop energy retrofit strategies for the 20th-century Ziya Gökalp Elementary School built as a type of project during Ottoman educational reforms. The method is predicated on a comparative analysis of the model created using DesignBuilder simulations, examining both the current state and retrofit scenarios. Energy performance retrofit scenarios have been developed with consideration for national and international guidelines, local climate conditions, and the building's cultural heritage value. Energy retrofit recommendations were made for the walls, attic floor, and window components. Energy, carbon emission and thermal comfort analyses were conducted for the current state of the building and proposed scenarios. As a result of the proposed scenarios, it was determined that energy conservation was achieved at a rate of 72.43%, the number of comfortable days increased by 31%, and operational carbon emissions decreased by 10.39%. It has been determined that the increase in embodied carbon can be offset by a decrease in operational carbon within two years. These results show that energy retrofits can be conducted without damaging historic educational buildings.
References
Ali, H., & Hashlamun, R. (2019). Envelope retrofitting strategies for public school buildings in Jordan. Journal of Building Engineering, 25, 100819. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JOBE.2019.100819
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE). (2002). ASHRAE, Guideline 14-2002, Measurement of energy and demand savings. https://www.eeperformance.org/uploads/8/6/5/0/8650231/ashrae_guideline_14-2002_measurement_of_energy_and_demand_saving.pdf
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE). (2017). ASHRAE Standart 55, Thermal environmental conditions for human occupancy. https://www.ashrae.org/file%20library/technical%20resources/standards%20and%20guidelines/standards%20addenda/55_2017_d_20200731.pdf
Angrisano, M., Fabbrocino, F., Iodice, P., & Girard, L. F. (2021). The evaluation of historic building energy retrofit projects through the life cycle assessment. Applied Sciences, 11(15). https://doi.org/10.3390/APP11157145
Baggio, M., Tinterri, C., Mora, T. D., Righi, A., Peron, F., & Romagnoni, P. (2017). Sustainability of a historical building renovation design through the application of LEED® Rating System. Energy Procedia, 113, 382-389. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EGYPRO.2017.04.017
Baydaş, Ö. G. (2007). The gowernmental strate buildings in Diyarbakir end Mardin [PhD Thesis, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University].
Buda, A., Gori, V., Hansen, E. J. de P., López, C. S. P., Marincioni, V., Giancola, E., Vernimme, N., Egusquiza, A., Haas, F., & Herrera-Avellanosa, D. (2022). Existing tools enabling the implementation of EN 16883:2017 Standard to integrate conservation-compatible retrofit solutions in historic buildings. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 57, 34-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CULHER.2022.07.002
Burattini, C., Nardecchia, F., Bisegna, F., Cellucci, L., Gugliermetti, F., De Lieto Vollaro, A., Salata, F., & Golasi, I. (2015). Methodological approach to the energy analysis of unconstrained historical buildings. Sustainability (Switzerland), 7(8), 10428-10444. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU70810428
Butera, F., D’Orso, A., Farruggia, S., Ftizzo, G., & Silvestrini, G. (1985). Energy conservation in 29 historic school buildings in Palermo. International Journal of Ambient Energy, 6(2), 71-78. https://doi.org/10.1080/01430750.1985.9675445
Buvik, K., Andersen, G., & Tangen, S. (2014). Ambitious renovation of a historical school building in cold climate. Energy Procedia, 48, 1442-1448. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EGYPRO.2014.02.163
Buvik, K., Andersen, G., & Tangen, S. (2015). Energy upgrading of a historical school building in cold climate. Energy Procedia, 78, 3342-3347. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EGYPRO.2015.11.748
Carlos, J. S. (2016). Sustainability assessment of government school buildings in Portugal Sustainability assessment of government school buildings in Portugal. Architectural Science Review, 59(5), 413-422. https://doi.org/10.1080/00038628.2016.1167666
Cho, H. M., Yang, S., Wi, S., Chang, S. J., & Kim, S. (2020). Hygrothermal and energy retrofit planning of masonry façade historic building used as museum and office: A cultural properties case study. Energy, 201, 117607. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENERGY.2020.117607
Chong, A., Gu, Y., & Jia, H. (2021). Calibrating building energy simulation models: A review of the basics to guide future work. Energy and Buildings, 253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111533
Danaci, H. M., & Akin, N. (2022). Thermal insulation materials in architecture: a comparative test study with aerogel and rock wool. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(48), 72979-72990. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20927-2
De Santoli, L., Fraticelli, F., Fornari, F., & Calice, C. (2014). Energy performance assessment and a retrofit strategies in public school buildings in Rome. Energy and Buildings, 68, 196-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENBUILD.2013.08.028
Designbuilder Sofware. (2025). ASHRAE 140-2023 / BESTEST Results for DesignBuilder v7.3. https://designbuilder.co.uk/download/validation (02.05.2025).
Directive 2002/91/EC. (n.d.). Directive 2002/91/ec of the European parliament and of the council of 16 December 2002 on the energy performance of buildings. Official Journal of the European Communities.
Directive 2010/31/EU. (n.d.). Directive 2010/31/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May 2010 on the energy performance of buildings. Official Journal of the European Union. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32010L0031 (02.05.2025).
Directive 2012/27/EU. (2012). Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on Energy Efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC. Official Journal of the European Communities. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2012/27/oj (02.05.2025).
Diyarbakır Regional Board of Cultural Heritage Conservation. (1980). Decision Number and Date: 2082, 19.01.198.
Diz, T. (2024). Yeni TS 825 Standardı ve sektörümüze etkileri. Izoder. https://www.izoder.org.tr/dosyalar/IZODER%20TS%20825%20Sektorel%20Bilgilendirme.pdf
EN 16883. (2017). EN-16883:2017 Conservation of Cultural Heritage-Guidelines for Improving the Energy Performance of Historic Buildings.
Ergün, Ş. (2024). Diyarbakır Ziya Gökalp Primary School conservation project [Master of Science, Dicle University].
Ergün, Ş., & Halifeoğlu, F. M. (2023). İşlevsel sürdürülebilirliğe yönelik koruma sorunlarının değerlendirilmesi: Diyarbakır Ziya Gökalp İlkokulu. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 32(3), 167-183. https://doi.org/10.35379/cusosbil.1201556
Etxepare, L., Leon, I., Sagarna, M., Lizundia, I., & Uranga, E. J. (2020). Advanced intervention protocol in the energy rehabilitation of heritage buildings: A Miñones Barracks case study. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(15), 6270. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU12156270
European Commission. (2012). Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 244/2012 of 16 January 2012.
European Commission. (2016). Clean energy for all Europeans. https://wayback.archive-it.org/12090/20241209144917/https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-strategy/clean-energy-all-europeans-package_en
Fourtec. (n.d.). MicroLite The Plug and. Fourier Systems. https://www.fouriersystems.com/products/usb_logger/data_logger.php (22.05.2025).
Ibn-Mohammed, T., Greenough, R., Taylor, S., Ozawa-Meida, L., & Acquaye, A. (2013). Operational vs. embodied emissions in buildings - A review of current trends. Energy and Buildings, 66, 232-245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.07.026
IEA. (2021). Buildings: A source of enormous untapped efficiency potential. IEA. https://www.iea.org/topics/buildings (22.05.2025).
Jaemoon, K., Duhwan, L., & Seunghoon, N. (2023). Potential for environmental impact reduction through building LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) of school facilities in material production stage. Building and Environment, 238, 110329. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BUILDENV.2023.110329
Jerominko, T., & Cichowicz, R. (2025). Improving the energy efficiency of typical public buildings intended for education purposes located in the temperate climate zone in central and Eastern Europe. Energy, 322. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENERGY.2025.135542
Kodaman, B. (1991). Abdülhamid devri eğitim sistemi. Türk Tarih Kurumu Basımevi.
Kolokotsa, D., Diakaki, C., Grigoroudis, E., Stavrakakis, G., & Kalaitzakis, K. (2009). Decision support methodologies on the energy efficiency and energy management in buildings. Advances in Building Energy Research, 3(1), 121-146. https://doi.org/10.3763/ABER.2009.0305
Kyritsi, E., Katsaprakakis, D., Dakanali, E., Yiannnakoudakis, Y., Zidianakis, G., Michael, A., & Michopoulos, A. (2025). Energy renovation of two historical buildings in Mediterranean area. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 71, 106-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2024.11.001
Leijonhufvud, G. (2021). Suggestions for enhancing the European guidelines for improving energy performance of historic buildings. EBC Annex 76. https://doi.org/10.18777/ieashc-task59-2021-0002
Lidelöw, S., Örn, T., Luciani, A., & Rizzo, A. (2019). Energy-efficiency measures for heritage buildings: A literature review. Sustainable Cities and Society, 45, 231-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCS.2018.09.029
Loukaidou, K., Michopoulos, A., & Zachariadis, Th. (2017). Nearly-zero Energy Buildings: Cost-optimal Analysis of Building Envelope Characteristics. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 38, 20-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PROENV.2017.03.069
Martínez-Molina, A., Tort-Ausina, I., Cho, S., & Vivancos, J. L. (2016). Energy efficiency and thermal comfort in historic buildings: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 61, 70-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RSER.2016.03.018
Meteoroloji Genel Müdürlüğü. (2026). İllere ait mevsim normalleri-Diyarbakır (1991-2020). MGM. https://mgm.gov.tr/veridegerlendirme/il-ve-ilceler-istatistik.aspx?m=DIYARBAKIR
Moghaddam, S. A., Mattsson, M., Ameen, A., Akander, J., Gameiro Da Silva, M., & Simões, N. (2021). Low-emissivity window films as an energy retrofit option for a historical stone building in cold climate. Energies, 14(22), 7584. https://doi.org/10.3390/EN14227584
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2023). Education at a Glance 2023: OECD Indicators (Education at a Glance). OECD. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1787/e13bef63-en
Park, H., Yeo, S. H., Jeong, H., Kim, S., & Chang, S. J. (2025). Optimizing energy efficiency and Sustainable utilization of National Heritage through the remodeling of closed school buildings. Energy and Buildings, 328, 115168. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENBUILD.2024.115168
Parlak, Ö. (2018). The building typology of first national architectural period and the analysis of the education buildings in Konya [Master of Thesis, Necmettin Erbakan University].
Pies, M., Hajovsky, R., & Velicka, J. (2020). Design and implementation of the embedded system for environmental variables measurement. Sensors, 20, 1-30. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20082304
Power, A. (2008). Does demolition or refurbishment of old and inefficient homes help to increase our environmental, social and economic viability? Energy Policy, 36(12), 4487-4501. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENPOL.2008.09.022
Presidency of The Republic of Türkiye Directorate of State Archives. (1933). Başbakanlık Cumhuriyet Arşivi (BCA).
Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Environment Urbanization and Climate Change. (2025). TS 825 Binalarda Isı Yalıtım Kuralları Standardı İle İlgili Tebliğ (Tebliğ No: Mhgm-2025/1). Resmi Gazete. https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2025/02/20250220-2.htm
Royapoor, M., & Roskilly, T. (2015). Building model calibration using energy and environmental data. Energy and Buildings, 94, 109-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENBUILD.2015.02.050
Ruggeri, A. G., Calzolari, M., Scarpa, M., Gabrielli, L., & Davoli, P. (2020). Planning energy retrofit on historic building stocks: A score-driven decision support system. Energy and Buildings, 224, 110066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110066
Run, K., Cévaër, F., & Dubé, J. F. (2023). Does energy-efficient renovation positively impact thermal comfort and air quality in university buildings? Journal of Building Engineering, 78, 107507. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JOBE.2023.107507
Salvalai, G., Malighetti, L. E., Luchini, L., & Girola, S. (2017). Analysis of different energy conservation strategies on existing school buildings in a Pre-Alpine Region. Energy and Buildings, 145, 92-106. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENBUILD.2017.03.058
Sauchelli, M., Masera, G., D’Antona, G., & Manzolini, G. (2014). ISIS Facchinetti: A nearly zero energy retrofit in Italy. Energy Procedia, 48, 1326-1335. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EGYPRO.2014.02.150
Šekularac, N., Ivanović-Šekularac, J., Petrovski, A., Macut, N., & Radojević, M. (2020). Restoration of a historic building in order to improve energy efficiency and energy saving—case study—the dining room within the Žiča Monastery Property. Sustainability, 12(15), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU12156271
Şahin, C. D., Arsan, Z. D., Tunçoku, S. S., Broström, T., & Akkurt, G. G. (2015). A transdisciplinary approach on the energy efficient retrofitting of a historic building in the Aegean Region of Turkey. Energy and Buildings, 96, 128-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.03.018
Taleghani, M., Tenpierik, M., Kurvers, S., & Van Den Dobbelsteen, A. (2013). A review into thermal comfort in buildings. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 26, 201-215. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RSER.2013.05.050
Timur, B. A., Başaran, T., & İpekoğlu, B. (2022). Thermal retrofitting for sustainable use of traditional dwellings in Mediterranean climate of southwestern Anatolia. Energy and Buildings, 256, 111712. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENBUILD.2021.111712
Turkish Standarts Institute. (2008). Binalarda ısı yalıtım kuralları TS 825. Turkish Standarts Institute.
Turkish Standarts Institute. (2024). TS 825: 2024 Binalarda ısı yalıtım kuralları standardı. Turkish Standarts Institute.
Türkmen, K. (2022). A representative of modern education in the ottoman empire that cannot be surviving today: Kırşehir High School with construction process and architectural details. Art-Sanat Dergisi, (17), 529-550. https://doi.org/10.26650/ARTSANAT.2022.17.893286
UNEP. (2020). Guidelines on Green House of Worship. Cities. UNEP. https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/33262/GGHW.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y (22.05.2025).
UNESCO World Heritage Convention. (2015). Diyarbakır fortress and hevsel gardens cultural landscape. UNESCO. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1488/ (22.05.2025).
Walker, R., & Pavía, S. (2015). Thermal performance of a selection of insulation materials suitable for historic buildings. Building and Environment, 94(Part 1), 155-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BUILDENV.2015.07.033
Webb, A. L. (2017). Energy retrofits in historic and traditional buildings: A review of problems and methods. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 77, 748-759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.01.145
Wei, Z., Calautit, J. K., Wei, S., & Tien, P. W. (2024). Real-time clothing insulation level classification based on model transfer learning and computer vision for PMV-based heating system optimization through piecewise linearization. Building and Environment, 253, 111277. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BUILDENV.2024.111277
Yang, J., Pantazaras, A., Eang Lee, S., & Santamouris, M. (2016). Energy Retrofitting solutions for two different occupancy levels of educational buildings in tropics. International Journal of Sustainable Energy, 37(1), 81-95. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786451.2016.1177052
Zhang, S., Cheng, Y., Olaide Oladokun, M., Wu, Y., & Lin, Z. (2020). Improving predicted mean vote with inversely determined metabolic rate. Sustainable Cities and Society, 53, 101870. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCS.2019.101870
Ziozas, N., Kitsopoulou, A., Bellos, E., Iliadis, P., Gonidaki, D., Angelakoglou, K., Nikolopoulos, N., Ricciuti, S., & Viesi, D. (2024). Energy performance analysis of the renovation process in an Italian cultural heritage building. Sustainability, 16(7), 2784. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU16072784
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 IDA: International Design and Art Journal

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
IDA: International Design and Art Journal is an open-access academic journal. All publishing rights of the accepted articles are deemed to assign to IDA: International Design and Art Journal. Articles can not be published and copied anywhere, and can not be used without reference.
IDA: International Design and Art Journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

