Energy Efficiency and Conservation Approaches in Institutional Buildings: The Riyadh Reformatory Case in Saudi Arabia
and Abdullrahman A. Al-Shamma’a 2
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis article focuses on the analysis of Energy Efficiency and Conservation Approaches in Institutional Buildings considering as a case study The Riyadh Reformatory Case in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The paper is of interest for publication, but the following comments should be addressed by the authors before final publication is approved.
Line 38. The reference to the Kingdom should be entered and referenced the first time it appears as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , if so.
In Figure 2 the title of vertical axis is KVA. What does mean?
Line 239. The authors say: “Furthermore, the integration of insulation in windows proves crucial, mitigating the impact of light penetration and reducing heat leakage.” It is unclear why mitigating the impact of light penetration is advantageous.
Figure 3: todas las entradas deben comenzar con mayúsculas. Además, the phrase “is is the building complex” what does mean?
Figure 4: It is not clear to me what this figure represents, is it the electricity consumption of the whole country? Please clarify its meaning. On the other hand, the secondary vertical axis is labeled as load. The caption says it is the electrical consumption. The latter is more appropriate.
Section 5 is not well formatted. Please correct it.
Figure 5. The source of the temperature data must be supplied.
Line 283. The statement in the text “Lighting generally consumes around 35% of the total energy consumption in residential buildings” is not a universal rule. Thus, the source in literature or agency of this statement should be given as well as its geographical application framework.
Line 321: The authors say: “The cost of the programmable cooling regulator is included in the total cost of air conditioning.” This is a good practice, but to calculate the annual cost of the air conditioning consumption plus the cost of the cooling regulator, the cost of this equipment must be prorated to the time interval of its duration. Please clarify this issue.
Figure 6.- It is not clear what the vertical axis represents and the percentages that appear for the different types of insulation. For example, No insulation has a value of 94%. What does this value represent? What is the meaning of 100%?
Figure 7.- The units of reduction must appear in the Figure, on the vertical axis and in the caption.
Page 13.- Citations (SASO, 2018), and (Shaalan, 2012) should be given in the number format, as in the beginning of the article.
Author Response
Please find attached file of Response to Reviewer#1 comments.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsGeneral Comments:
The manuscript addresses a pertinent and timely topic, namely energy efficiency and conservation in institutional buildings. Focussing on the Riyadh Reformatory building as a case study, it pays particular attention to safety provisions and energy conservation, aligning with standards established by the Saudi Arabian Standards Organisation (SASO). Although the study presents interesting findings and practical implications, there are areas in which significant improvements are required before the manuscript can be deemed suitable for publication. Moreover, the study should align with current research trends in this field to strengthen the narrative and contextual grounding.
Specific Comments:
Introduction
Include a brief overview of the current state-of-the-art AI and IoT applications in energy efficiency and conservation, particularly within institutional buildings.
Clarify the rationale and the objectives of the study to improve focus and coherence.
Case Study
Provide a more detailed description of the Riyadh Reformatory building, including relevant architectural, operational, and energy-use characteristics that justify its selection as a representative case.
Research Methodology:
Elaborate on the methodology used, particularly the implementation of the e-Quest simulation tool.
Describe how the simulation results were validated to enhance the credibility and reproducibility of the findings.
A sensitivity analysis should be carried out to identify the most influential building parameters.
Discussion:
Discuss the selection and calibration of input parameters used in the energy models.
Enrich the discussion with a deeper reflection on key challenges related to energy conservation and cost-effectiveness in institutional settings along with their policy implications.
Conclusions:
A major takeaway of the study is the recommendation to integrate smart and programmable sensor devices for managing appliances and equipment. This suggestion should be further contextualised in relation to modern AI technologies that enable real-time decision-making, predictive analytics, and adaptive control.
Author Response
Please find attached file of Response to Reviewer#2 comments.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsI would like to thank the authors for their thorough and thoughtful responses to all comments. They have adequately addressed each point raised in the previous round. The revisions made have considerably enhanced the clarity, coherence, and overall quality of the manuscript. The research methodology is now clearer, and the contextualisation of the Riyadh Reformatory case has been reinforced.
