Al-Tamimi, N. (2021). Cost Benefit Analysis of Applying Thermal Insulation Alternatives to Saudi Residential Buildings. JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences, 49(No 2), 156-177. doi: 10.21608/jesaun.2021.50485.1021
Nedhal Al-Tamimi. "Cost Benefit Analysis of Applying Thermal Insulation Alternatives to Saudi Residential Buildings". JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences, 49, No 2, 2021, 156-177. doi: 10.21608/jesaun.2021.50485.1021
Al-Tamimi, N. (2021). 'Cost Benefit Analysis of Applying Thermal Insulation Alternatives to Saudi Residential Buildings', JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences, 49(No 2), pp. 156-177. doi: 10.21608/jesaun.2021.50485.1021
Al-Tamimi, N. Cost Benefit Analysis of Applying Thermal Insulation Alternatives to Saudi Residential Buildings. JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences, 2021; 49(No 2): 156-177. doi: 10.21608/jesaun.2021.50485.1021
Cost Benefit Analysis of Applying Thermal Insulation Alternatives to Saudi Residential Buildings
Architectural Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Najran University
Abstract
Given the rapidly increasing number of air-conditioned buildings, the electricity demand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has increased during the past decade. Efficient thermal insulation is extremely important for energy efficiency and sustainability, especially with the country’s hot-arid climate. This study explores the law of diminishing returns when improving the conservation level of residential buildings by using case study simulation. Specifically, this study aims to identify alternative positions for the insulation material and the optimum thickness for the three proposed strategies (on the roof only, on the walls only and on the roof and walls) in accordance with the energy efficiency index defined in the thermal insulation regulation of the KSA. Moreover, this study uses the life cycle cost model to manage the optimum number of insulation levels. This study also uses DesignBuilder energy simulation tool to estimate the energy performance and the environmental impact of a sample prototype villa with a gross area of 238 m2 in Najran City. The optimum insulation thickness is defined based on the cost benefits of the extruded polystyrene material (XPS) over its lifetime. Results show that the optimum insulation thicknesses of 8, 4 and 6 cm must be applied on the roof only, the walls only and the roof and walls. These alternatives can lead to reductions of 19.14%, 7.51% and 29.77% on annual energy consumption, respectively. A substantial reduction on CO2 emission is also achieved. Finally, the payback period in the three optimum alternatives are 3.73, 12.14 and 6.39 years, respectively.
1. GAS, Statistical Yearbook, General Authority of Statistics. 2019: Riyadh, KSA.
2. GAStat, Annual Report 2018, The General Authority for Statistics. 2019: Available at: https://www.stats.gov.sa [Accessed: 07 Oct 2019].
3. EIA. Independent Statistics and Analysis: Annual Energy Outlook 2014, US Energy Information Administration, Available at: http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/aeo/er/. [Accessed: 26 Dec. 2015]. 2014.
4. ECRA, Annual Statistical Booklet for Electricity & Seawater Desalination Industries. 2014: Electricity and Cogeneration Regulatory Authority, KSA.
5. Taleb, H.M. and S. Sharples, Developing sustainable residential buildings in Saudi Arabia: A case study. Applied Energy, 2011. 88(1): p. 383-391.
6. Ozel, M., Effect of wall orientation on the optimum insulation thickness by using a dynamic method. Applied Energy, 2011. 88(7): p. 2429-2435.
7. Yu, J., et al., Optimum insulation thickness of residential roof with respect to solar-air degree-hours in hot summer and cold winter zone of china. Energy and Buildings, 2011. 43(9): p. 2304-2313.
8. Al-Tamimi, N., A state-of-the-art review of the sustainability and energy efficiency of buildings in Saudi Arabia. Energy Efficiency, 2017. 10(5): p. 1129-1141.
9. SEEC, S.E.E.C., Energy Efficiency in KSA: Annual Report 2014. 2015: Available: http://www.seec.gov.sa [Accessed: 06-Jan-2016].
10. Al-Sanea, S.A., et al., Optimum R-values of building walls under different climatic conditions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2016. 96: p. 92-106.
11. Alsayed, M.F. and R.A. Tayeh, Life cycle cost analysis for determining optimal insulation thickness in Palestinian buildings. Journal of Building Engineering, 2019. 22: p. 101-112.
12. Yarbrough, D.W., Thermal Insulation for Energy Conservation, in Handbook of Climate Change Mitigation, W.-Y. Chen, et al., Editors. 2012, Springer US: New York, NY. p. 649-668.
13. Ucar, A. and F. Balo, Determination of the energy savings and the optimum insulation thickness in the four different insulated exterior walls. Renewable Energy, 2010. 35(1): p. 88-94.
14. Çomaklı, K. and B. Yüksel, Optimum insulation thickness of external walls for energy saving. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2003. 23(4): p. 473-479.
15. Bolattürk, A., Optimum insulation thicknesses for building walls with respect to cooling and heating degree-hours in the warmest zone of Turkey. Building and Environment, 2008. 43(6): p. 1055-1064.
16. Yu, J., et al., A study on optimum insulation thicknesses of external walls in hot summer and cold winter zone of China. Applied Energy, 2009. 86(11): p. 2520-2529.
17. D’Agostino, D., et al., Evaluation of the optimal thermal insulation thickness for an office building in different climates by means of the basic and modified “cost-optimal” methodology. Journal of Building Engineering, 2019. 24: p. 100743.
18. Zhang, X. and F. Cheng, Comparative assessment of external and internal thermal insulation for energy conservation of intermittently air-conditioned buildings. 2019. p. 568-584.
19. Aldossary, N.A., Y. Rezgui, and A. Kwan, Domestic energy consumption patterns in a hot and humid climate: A multiple-case study analysis. Applied Energy, 2014. 114: p. 353-365.
20. Mohsen, M.S. and B.A. Akash, Some prospects of energy savings in buildings. Energy Conversion and Management, 2001. 42(11): p. 1307-1315.
21. Ucar, A. and F. Balo, Effect of fuel type on the optimum thickness of selected insulation materials for the four different climatic regions of Turkey. Applied Energy, 2009. 86(5): p. 730-736.
22. Daouas, N., Z. Hassen, and H.B. Aissia, Analytical periodic solution for the study of thermal performance and optimum insulation thickness of building walls in Tunisia. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2010. 30(4): p. 319-326.
23. Alrashed, F., Asif, M., , Trends in Residential Energy Consumption in Saudi Arabia with Particular Reference to the Eastern Province. J. sustain. dev. energy water environ. syst., 2014. 2(4): p. 376-387.
24. Kameni Nematchoua, M., et al., A comparative study on optimum insulation thickness of walls and energy savings in equatorial and tropical climate. International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment, 2017. 6(1): p. 170-182.
25. Bektas Ekici, B., A. Aytac Gulten, and U.T. Aksoy, A study on the optimum insulation thicknesses of various types of external walls with respect to different materials, fuels and climate zones in Turkey. Applied Energy, 2012. 92: p. 211-217.
26. Bolattürk, A., Determination of optimum insulation thickness for building walls with respect to various fuels and climate zones in Turkey. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2006. 26(11): p. 1301-1309.
27. KACARE, Summary Report, Solar and Meteorological Data, King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, The data is calculated from November 01, 2014 to May 31, 2017. 2019.
28. Khan, M., M. Asif, and E. Stach, Rooftop PV Potential in the Residential Sector of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Buildings, 2017. 7(2): p. 46.
30. Muller, E. Development of A Test Reference Year on A Limited Data Base for Simulations on Passive Heating and Cooling in Chile. in Proceedings of IBPSA Conference: Building Simulation. 2001. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
31. Grote, L. and D. Wang, Architectural research methods. 2002, New York.Print in the United tastes of America: John Wiley & Sons.
32. Software, D. User manual. 2016.
33. Mahlia, T.M.I. and A. Iqbal, Cost benefits analysis and emission reductions of optimum thickness and air gaps for selected insulation materials for building walls in Maldives. Energy, 2010. 35(5): p. 2242-2250.
34. Al-Sanea, S.A. and M.F. Zedan, Optimum insulation thickness for building walls in a hot-dry climate. International Journal of Ambient Energy, 2002. 23(3): p. 115-126.
35. Al-Homoud, D.M.S., Performance characteristics and practical applications of common building thermal insulation materials. Building and Environment, 2005. 40(3): p. 353-366.
36. Al-Sanea, S.A. and M.F. Zedan, Improving thermal performance of building walls by optimizing insulation layer distribution and thickness for same thermal mass. Applied Energy, 2011. 88(9): p. 3113-3124.
37. Krarti, M., M. Aldubyan, and E. Williams, Residential building stock model for evaluating energy retrofit programs in Saudi Arabia. Energy, 2020. 195: p. 116980.
View on SCiNiTO
Top