Climate Zone Map Tool for Building Energy Code Compliance in Saudi Arabia (OR-16-C028)

Climate has a major impact on energy use in buildings, especially in Saudi Arabia. Due to the complexities of the Saudi Building Code, Energy Conservation Requirements (SBC-601) and the lack of a simple building science-based climate zone map for Saudi Arabia, neither builders nor designers have been able to demonstrate code compliance, and neither have the authorities having jurisdiction been able to mandate code enforcement properly.  As a result, 70% of Saudi Arabian homes are today, for example, not insulated, which results in the consumption of nearly 52% of electrical power generated. This study explains the details of how the above-mentioned shortcomings can be addressed through development of a Kingdom-specific climate zone map online tool, which characterizes the SBC 601 minimum prescriptive energy efficiency performance requirements for residential and nonresidential buildings envelopes. The study also highlights the significant role this tool can play in facilitating code compliance and gives examples of the potential energy savings.