Proposed role of the local Saudi building codes in assessing the energy performance of buildings in KSA’s GBRS

Abstract

The building sector is the highest in consuming energy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Thus, the accuracy of energy efficiency assessment results for KSA buildings is of high importance. Mostadam is the local Green Building Rating System (GBRS) in KSA. The main article’s argument is related to the way that the energy performance item in Mostadam is performed to gain its points. One of the main reasons to produce Mostadam was linking it with the Saudi Building Codes (SBCs) besides the allowance of other standards to be used, thus, if these local codes can give at least the same results as any other used standards, then they should have the priority, and at least the same if not more obtained assessment points. By using a simulation method, the results showed that the SBC baseline gave more efficient energy results than the used international standard baseline for the Energy Performance item of Mostadam. Nevertheless, the international standard has the priority among the SBC in assessing this item, and is the only used for the performance option, and can give up to three times more points than complying with the SBC through only a prescriptive option. The results also showed that the SBC can help more accurate results regarding the different characterized regions in KSA. Updating Mostadam to include a performance option that relies on the SBC is then recommended, and raising the given points to at least the same level as the other performance option is urged.