Retrofit strategies to improve energy efficiency through the integration of thermal insulation into the residential buildings of Saudi Arabia
Approximately 70 % of residential buildings in Saudi Arabia lack adequate thermal insulation, resulting in high cooling demands that contribute to more than 47 % of the nation's electricity consumption. This study aimed to evaluate several thermal insulation retrofit strategies for typical resi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Case Studies in Thermal Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25008809 |
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| author | Hassan Hassan Umar Omar S. Asfour |
| author_facet | Hassan Hassan Umar Omar S. Asfour |
| author_sort | Hassan Hassan Umar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Approximately 70 % of residential buildings in Saudi Arabia lack adequate thermal insulation, resulting in high cooling demands that contribute to more than 47 % of the nation's electricity consumption. This study aimed to evaluate several thermal insulation retrofit strategies for typical residential buildings in Saudi Arabia. A mixed-methods approach was employed through a combination of expert interviews and energy simulations conducted using DesignBuilder software. A total of 24 retrofit scenarios, comprising different combinations of internal and external walls, roof insulation, window glazing enhancements, and HVAC system upgrades, were assessed. A multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) using the TOPSIS method was applied to rank scenarios based on three key indicators: energy savings, payback periods, and material lifespan. Energy savings across the scenarios ranged from 12 % to 75 %. The most effective scenario, which combined external roof insulation with an HVAC upgrade, achieved 65.5 % energy savings with a payback period of 8.6 years and a closeness-to-ideal score (Ci) of 0.92. Key barriers identified by experts included high material costs, limited skilled labor, regulatory constraints, and supply chain delays. These findings provide targeted guidance in selecting optimal retrofit strategies to enhance the energy performance of residential buildings in hot climates. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c3b9b7fa9ccc4f31bd7328da1afcf228 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2214-157X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Studies in Thermal Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-c3b9b7fa9ccc4f31bd7328da1afcf2282025-08-20T03:15:22ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2025-09-017310662010.1016/j.csite.2025.106620Retrofit strategies to improve energy efficiency through the integration of thermal insulation into the residential buildings of Saudi ArabiaHassan Hassan Umar0Omar S. Asfour1Architecture and City Design Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi ArabiaArchitecture and City Design Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia; Interdisciplinary Research Center for Construction and Building Materials, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia; Corresponding authorUniversity of Petroleum & Minerals, P.O. Box 2483, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia.Approximately 70 % of residential buildings in Saudi Arabia lack adequate thermal insulation, resulting in high cooling demands that contribute to more than 47 % of the nation's electricity consumption. This study aimed to evaluate several thermal insulation retrofit strategies for typical residential buildings in Saudi Arabia. A mixed-methods approach was employed through a combination of expert interviews and energy simulations conducted using DesignBuilder software. A total of 24 retrofit scenarios, comprising different combinations of internal and external walls, roof insulation, window glazing enhancements, and HVAC system upgrades, were assessed. A multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) using the TOPSIS method was applied to rank scenarios based on three key indicators: energy savings, payback periods, and material lifespan. Energy savings across the scenarios ranged from 12 % to 75 %. The most effective scenario, which combined external roof insulation with an HVAC upgrade, achieved 65.5 % energy savings with a payback period of 8.6 years and a closeness-to-ideal score (Ci) of 0.92. Key barriers identified by experts included high material costs, limited skilled labor, regulatory constraints, and supply chain delays. These findings provide targeted guidance in selecting optimal retrofit strategies to enhance the energy performance of residential buildings in hot climates.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25008809Building retrofitEnergy efficiencyResidential buildingsSaudi ArabiaThermal insulation |
| spellingShingle | Hassan Hassan Umar Omar S. Asfour Retrofit strategies to improve energy efficiency through the integration of thermal insulation into the residential buildings of Saudi Arabia Case Studies in Thermal Engineering Building retrofit Energy efficiency Residential buildings Saudi Arabia Thermal insulation |
| title | Retrofit strategies to improve energy efficiency through the integration of thermal insulation into the residential buildings of Saudi Arabia |
| title_full | Retrofit strategies to improve energy efficiency through the integration of thermal insulation into the residential buildings of Saudi Arabia |
| title_fullStr | Retrofit strategies to improve energy efficiency through the integration of thermal insulation into the residential buildings of Saudi Arabia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Retrofit strategies to improve energy efficiency through the integration of thermal insulation into the residential buildings of Saudi Arabia |
| title_short | Retrofit strategies to improve energy efficiency through the integration of thermal insulation into the residential buildings of Saudi Arabia |
| title_sort | retrofit strategies to improve energy efficiency through the integration of thermal insulation into the residential buildings of saudi arabia |
| topic | Building retrofit Energy efficiency Residential buildings Saudi Arabia Thermal insulation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25008809 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hassanhassanumar retrofitstrategiestoimproveenergyefficiencythroughtheintegrationofthermalinsulationintotheresidentialbuildingsofsaudiarabia AT omarsasfour retrofitstrategiestoimproveenergyefficiencythroughtheintegrationofthermalinsulationintotheresidentialbuildingsofsaudiarabia |