A Review of Energy Efficiency Measures in Commercial Buildings: The Case of Lebanon Antoine ABOU JAOUDE 1 ,Issam SROUR 2 and Carol MENASSA 3 1 Graduate Student, Engineering Management Program, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, 1107-2020, Lebanon; PH (+961)1350000; FAX (+961)1744462; email: aga30@aub.edu.lb 2 Assistant Professor, Engineering Management Program, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, 1107-2020, Lebanon; PH (+961)1350000; FAX (+961)1744462; email: is04@aub.edu.lb 3 Assistant Professor and John L. Tishman Faculty Scholar, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, 2350 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; PH +1-7347647525; email: menassa@umich.edu ABSTRACT Lebanon suffers from a chronic problem of electricity shortages, and therefore power outages are common. Electricite du Liban (EDL) - the national electricity provider - covers 61% of the total electricity demand, while 58% of private households and nearly 100% of commercial and industrial enterprises are using back-up generation as an alternative power supply. With the escalation of the electricity supply crisis, several solutions and mitigation plans have been put into action with a total estimated cost of $6.52 billion covering infrastructure, supply, and legal framework. This paper focuses on energy efficiency measures within the commercial sector, which accounts for more than 20% of Lebanon’s energy consumption. A literature review is used to formulate a set of hypotheses highlighting the factors that will positively affect the success of an energy efficiency program adopted by businesses in the commercial sector in Lebanon. This paper is part of an ongoing research project which examines user behavior modifications via questionnaires, interviews, and case study analysis with decision-makers and end-users. INTRODUCTION As climate change is becoming a global concern, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) is pushing to reinforce the implementation of its Kyoto Protocol. Therefore, developing countries, such as Lebanon who is a member of the UNFCCC and one of the countries that signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2006, are now required to develop all of their sectors sustainably with the aid of developed countries (Dagher and Ruble 2010). The energy sector in Lebanon is in desperate need for sustainable development. The average electricity capacity available in 2008 was approximately 1,600 MW, while the average demand exceeded 2,000 MW and the instantaneous peak - typically in the summer - was 2,600 MW. As a result, continuous supply of demand is still not possible and blackouts are common (3 to 12 hours per day). Electricite du Liban (EDL) provides 61% of the total national electricity demand while 58% of private households and nearly 100% of 633 Construction Research Congress 2014 ©ASCE 2014