Assessment of Current Energy Consumption in Residential Buildings in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Ahmed Felimban,Yasser Qaffas,Alejandro Prieto,Tillmann Klein,Ulrich Knaack

doi:10.3390/buildings9070163

Ahmed Felimban, Yasser Qaffas + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings9070163

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Abstract

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), residential buildings’ energy consumption accounts for almost 50% of the building stock electricity consumption. The KSA’s economy relies heavily on fossil fuel sources, namely oil reservoirs, whose depletion will negatively affect the future development of the country. The total electricity consumption is growing by approximately 5–8% annually, which would lead to oil production and oil consumption being equal in 2035. Therefore, residential buildings need further assessment as regards their current energy consumption. This research used a survey to explore current user behaviour in residential buildings’ energy performance in the city of Jeddah, KSA. The findings of the survey show that several factors impact the energy performance in residential buildings. First, the buildings’ thermal properties were found to be poorly designed. Second, the cultural aspects (family member role and generous hospitality), and the majority of users within the buildings preferring a room temperature of below 24 °C, requires a massive amount of cooling due to the climate conditions. Third, an increase in user awareness has helped to slightly improve residential buildings’ energy efficiency. Knowing the current high-energy-consumption sources and causes, being able to define opportunities for thermal properties’ enhancement, and increasing user awareness of how to achieve self-sustaining buildings are essential.

Highlights

Worldwide, many countries are investing in renewable energy sources to preserve natural resources for a sustainable future
In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), electricity consumption uses over one-third of the total daily oil production of the country, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 [1,2]
Three hundred and ninety-six completed forms were returned, equating to 333 respondents who lived in Jeddah; the rest lived outside of Jeddah

Summary

Introduction

Many countries are investing in renewable energy sources to preserve natural resources for a sustainable future. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), electricity consumption uses over one-third of the total daily oil production of the country, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 [1,2]. In the context of hot–arid climates, KSA was ranked among the 10 countries with the highest energy consumption per capita in 2014 [14]. KSA was ranked as one of the 10 most CO2 -emitting countries in the world [15,16]. 2013, the primary energy consumption per capita is over three times higher than the world average. According to a study by Alshibani and Alshamrani [1], electricity generation consumes nearly one-third of the daily KSA oil production.

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