Retrofitting measures for energy saving will be implemented into 9 university buildings of three Mediterranean Universities.  Here is presented the pilot site of University of Tunis el Manar - National Engineering  School of Tunis (ENIT).

— LOCATION —

University of Tunis el Manar is located at El Manar campus in Tunis ( Fig1), and consists of four faculties, nine institutes and two schools, among which we can cite: Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, Faculty of Medecines, Faculty of Economic sciences and Management, Faculty of Sciences, Preparatory Institute for Engineering Studies, Institute for Engineering Studies, Bourguiba Institute of Modern Languages and National Engineering School of Tunis, which will be object of renovation in the framework of Med-EcoSuRe project.

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Fig.1. Location of University Tunis El Manar 

— BRIEF HISTORY—

ENIT (Fig.2) is founded in 1968 and is the oldest engineering school in Tunisia after the National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia (1898).  The founder - and first director of the ENIT - is Mr. Mokhtar LAATIRI, engineer and senior Tunisian civil servant.

The school includes five departments namely: civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, and Information and communication technologies.  Each department offers different masters and doctoral programs and has its own research laboratories. 

Two new majors were added in 2010-2011 which are advanced techniques as well as hydraulics and the environment. In the following year (2012) another new major attached to the department of applied was introduced which is modeling for industry and services.

ENIT, today, has three complementary missions:

- Undergraduate and postgraduate programs for engineers that meets real or potential market needs.

- Permanent and remote training to sharpen the performance of engineers.

-  Research, innovation and transfer of know-how through development and technological entrepreneurship.

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Fig.2. View of National Engineering School of Tunis

— CURRENT SITUATION—

Renovation measures are planned in three departments buildings, in addition to the central adminitrative building (Fig.3.a) of the school, which consists of two floors and is dedicated to the administrative staff. The second pilot site is the energy engineering laboratory block (Fig.3.b), which is a three floor building. One section of the electrical department, reserved for research activities represents the third pilot site (Fig.3.c).

The final pilot site is called “U building”  (Fig.3.d) and it includes classrooms, conference rooms, laboratories and the library. This building is the biggest in the school and thus has the highest number of occupants (students, professors, researchers, administrative staff…).

Fig.3. Pilot sites at National Engineering School of Tunis: (a) central adminitrative building, (b) energy engineering laboratory, (c) laboratory at the electrical department, (d) U building

— RETROFITTING MEASURES—

Currently, the different buildings needs a series of refurbishment to improve comfort, environmental quality and energy efficiency (for instance: classical walls and roofs insulation, dynamic insulation, energy efficiency of artificial illumination, enhancing heating system (Absorption chiller), replacing single glazed windows by high performance double skin windows, adding shading systems, introducing Building Energy Management Systems, PV in roofing systems...

The most suitable renovation measures will be implemented following energy audits, studies, experimental tests and surveys to be performed within the university.

The implementation of the foreseen retrofitting and renovation measures will enable the university to ensure safety and comfort for users and continuity of services provided and to turn the buildings into a smart, green and healthy area.