A comprehensive assessment of the impact of the Saudi Building Code (SBC) on energy performance of residential buildings in Saudi Arabia

Energy use in buildings is a global issue, accounting for approximately 40% of global energy consumption, particularly in extreme climates. Rising populations and low energy costs in Saudi Arabia increase residential energy use. The Saudi Building Code (SBC) and Mostadam rating system aim to improve energy efficiency. However, they may overlook the country’s diverse climate. This study assesses the effectiveness of SBC and Mostadam in enhancing energy performance across Saudi Arabia’s diverse climatic zones. Three typical residential buildings − an apartment, an attached duplex, and a villa- were modeled and simulated across 46 Saudi locations. To achieve this, SBC envelope requirements were subsequently applied and benchmarked against the Mostadam rating system. Results showed that significant energy savings can be achieved by implementing SBC. Energy use intensities (EUIs) were reduced through SBC implementation, resulting in a decrease for all studied building types. The city of Jizan recorded the highest consumption, with EUIs in simulated cases ranging from 191.0 to 263.4 kWh/m²/year, which were reduced to between 120.7 and 235.5 kWh/m²/year with the introduction of the SBC. Abha, however, recorded the lowest consumption rate, with EUIs of 56.5 to 113.0 kWh/m²/year in the simulated case, which was reduced to 45.9 to 112.3 kWh/m²/year after applying the SBC. This indicates a positive ramification of SBC to energy savings, particularly in CZone-2, where reductions may have reached 20 % - 25 %. The study emphasizes context-specific performance standards of different residential typology to boost residential sustainability in Saudi Arabia, aligning with Vision 2030′s energy efficiency and environmental responsibility goals.