Session: 02-05: International Emphasis Applications

Paper Number: 131264

131264 - Simulating Window Designs in Residential Buildings to Analyze Energy Savings in an Arid Region 

Abstract: 

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) fifth report discusses carbon emission scenarios from anthropologic activity, concluding with high confidence that the global surface temperature will exceed 1.5 °C by the end of the 21^st century relative to the pre-industrial era. Furthermore, the Middle East and North Africa regions could experience a temperature increase of 2.5 °C by the end of the century. Currently, the climate in the Middle East is characterized by hot-arid regions with high temperatures. From 1991 to 2020, the mean surface air temperatures inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranged from 22 °C to 28 °C. In addition, during heat waves, the daily temperature may exceed 50 °C. Temperatures of this extreme pose a risk to the health and safety of citizens who live and work within these climates. Therefore, climate-controlled buildings are essential for modern societies to function in these high temperatures. These climate-controlled buildings require large amounts of energy to operate the cooling systems. In Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Electricity Company has stated that the residential sector alone accounts for 50% of the electricity consumption in the Kingdom. The major end use of residential energy is building cooling and varies slightly from city to city. For example, in Jeddah, 71% of the residential energy is used for cooling, while in Riyadh is 66%. This energy consumption significantly contributes to CO₂ emissions, which impact climate change, leading to warmer temperatures. In 2020, Saudi Arabia emitted between 550 and 600 Mtons of CO₂. A warming climate and growing population will continue to increase the building cooling demand, directly contributing to CO₂ emissions. Therefore, passive and active methods should be studied and applied to reduce building cooling demand.

Applying mitigation strategies on the building envelope is an effective method to reduce building cooling demand. Windows are a fundamental part of the home that contribute to the overall comfort of those who dwell inside and provide a spectacle to exterior viewers. However, windows contribute significantly to the building's undesired interior warming through conduction, convection, and solar heat gain. To reduce the heat gain, innovative and novel window applications need to be analyzed and simulated to understand their effects better. For Saudi Arabia, limited publications have been conducted on different window applications and their perspective on energy savings for the 'typical' residential buildings.

For this purpose, this study focuses on understanding the effects of glazing and innovative glazing practices on homes in Jeddah, which has the second-largest population in the Kingdom and resides next to the Red Sea. For modeling, OpenStudio software is utilized to generate the 'typical' Jeddah home as described by the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research CenterCenter (KAPSARC). For simulation, EnergyPlus utilizes WRF model data to emulate the home in Jeddah's climate. Preliminary results show an effective annual energy reduction of 8% – 10% for 'typical' homes in Jeddah. This data and research can provide a meaningful impact to reduce the energy consumption of the residential sector and provide policy for future building codes. This reduction benefits the environment, economy, and, in turn, society.

Presenting Author: Sami Al-Ghamdi King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)

Presenting Author Biography: Prof. Sami G. Al-Ghamdi conducts multidisciplinary research on the complexities of the built environment to mitigate climate change and optimize energy, water, and material consumption. He works on the five pillars of the built environment: (Transportation, Water, Energy, Materials, and Indoor Environment) where he quantitatively assesses the impact of urban systems on the environment with aim of sustainability, resilience and decarbonization.

Authors:

Charles Sexton King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Furqan Tahir King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Sami Al-Ghamdi King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)