Arab Energy Efficiency Building Regulations Comparative Overview

Nurzat Myrsalieva

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2. Scope of application

1. Status and type of Arab EE building regulations

3. EE requirements for passive and active building components

4. Use of renewable energy applications

Content

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1. Status & Type of Arab EE Building Regulations

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Energy Efficiency Building Regulations

7 countries have mandatory EE Building Regulations 8 countries have voluntary EE Building Regulations

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2. Scope of Application

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By Building Category

Most EE Building Regulations cover all building categories

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By Building Type

• New & Existing Buildings: Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Dubai

• New & Extension of Existing Buildings: Egypt, Jordan & Tunisia

• New Buildings: Syria

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Climatic Zones

• Countries identified one to three climatic zones

• How countries reflected different climatic conditions in their EE building regulations?

– Egypt & Tunisia: different thermal resistance values for the building envelope elements

– Kuwait: different minimum regulations for air-conditioning systems for the two different climatic zones: coastal and interior regions

– Syria: different thermal resistance values of the external surfaces of roofs and exterior walls according to three wind speed categories of different locations in Syria - ?

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3. Passive and Active Building Components

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Passive Building Components

Most EE building regulations set requirements for the thermal resistance

of the building envelope

However, only few countries have specifications for other passive

building components

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Roof, External walls, Windows &

Glazed Surfaces: 8: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria,

Tunisia, KSA, Dubai

Doors: 3: Egypt, Kuwait, Syria

Windows shading: 5: Bahrain (v), Egypt, Jordan,

Kuwait (v), Syria (v)

Day light control: 5: Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait (v), Syria (v),

Dubai WWR: 6: Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria (v), Tunisia,

Dubai

Windows orientation: 4: Bahrain (v), Jordan (v), Syria (v),

Dubai

Infiltration of air reduction: 6: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, KSA,

Dubai

Natural ventilation systems: 8: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria,

Tunisia, KSA, Dubai

Building form: 3: Egypt (v), Jordan(v),

Syria (v)

Building

orientation: 3: Bahrain (v),

Jordan(v), Syria (v)

Floor: 6: Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait,

Syria, KSA, Dubai

Passive Building Components

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HVAC:

7: Bahrain (v), Egypt, Jordan,

Kuwait, Syria, Tunisia (v), Dubai

Artificial lighting control:

7: Bahrain (v), Egypt, Jordan,

Kuwait, Syria, Tunisia (v), Dubai

Electrical systems :

5: Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria,

Tunisia (v)

Mechanical ventilation systems:

5: Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Tunisia (v),

Dubai

Active Building Components

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Saudi Arabia: no EE requirements for most active building components

Tunisia: all EE requirements for active building components are voluntary

Active Building Components

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4. Use of Renewable Energy Applications

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Renewable Energy Applications

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Enforcement?

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General Recommendations

• Mandatory with proper enforcement procedure

• Quantifiable measures for easiness of implementation

• Climatic zones need to relate to energy consumption of the building (heating, cooling, dehumidification)

• Scope of application: wide coverage of buildings

• New vs. refurbishment of existing

• Differentiate EE requirements for new buildings and existing buildings

• EE requirements should cover all building passive & active components

• Consider mandatory for cost-effective RE applications (SWH)

• Provide enabling frameworks for integration of other RE applications in building design

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Thank you!