Design Guidelines for Buildings in Saudi Arabia Considering Energy Conservation Requirements

Abstract

In Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the contribution from buildings towards energy consumption, both residential and commercial, has steadily increased reaching figures of 35% to 40% in the past few years. For this reason, energy efficiency in buildings is a prime objective for energy policy at regional, national and international levels. This research aims to provide design guidelines for buildings in Saudi Arabia taking into consideration the energy conservation principles. The proposed design parameters/guidelines are supported by computer simulation results of the software named “eQUEST” (Quick Energy Simulation Tool). This paper specifies minimum thermal resistance for walls and roofs, size and quality for glazing and performance standards for air conditioning (AC) systems.