Most new housing designs in Saudi Arabia are created to meet the client’s needs with minimal regard for environmental or energy-related considerations, resulting in buildings’ poor thermal performance and a growing reliance on artificial means. Polycarbonate windows have recently acquired popularity. Yet, there is a rising interest in combining polycarbonate windows with nanomaterials to reduce energy consumption, especially during the summer months when air conditioning use is at its peak. To improve building insulation, this research concentrated on the use of polycarbonate windows with nanogel, which has a low U-value. This study utilized polycarbonate windows with nanogel (two layers of polycarbonate panes filled with nanogel) in Hail City, Saudi Arabia, using DesignBuilder simulation software, resulting in a 14.3% reduction in annual energy consumption. The low U-value of nanogel compared to argon or air may be the cause of these savings, which are roughly double those gained by using double-paned polycarbonate windows. The incorporated nanogel layer between two layers of argon and two layers of polycarbonate panes decreased annual energy consumption by 29% compared to utilizing only one polycarbonate layer. Moreover, compared to a single 3 mm polycarbonate pane, the nanogel layer placed between two layers of argon and two layers of single polycarbonate panes demonstrated the lowest level of CO₂ emissions, with an improvement of around 22.23%. This study reveals a method for insulating buildings that cuts energy use and CO₂ emissions. This study’s conclusion supports the notion that sustainable design is the future. Sustainable construction can dramatically reduce building cooling costs and thermal loads.

Communities in nations all over the world must work to address the problem of energy consumption, which has emerged in modern times. Given that domestic consumers account for roughly 49% of the total electricity used annually by all sectors, buildings can be seen as a key player in this conundrum. The architecture field can therefore play a vital role in saving energy, not only through building design but also through the materials used. To minimize architectural programmes’ negative impact on the environment, sustainable design that saves energy is being employed today in traditional Saudi Arabian buildings. This study examined whether current housing designs can effectively integrate four key passive energy-saving strategies: outdoor green area, thermal mass wall, window-to-wall ratio and shading device. This study analysed two types of traditional houses from two different cities in Saudi Arabia’s Najd region, Riyadh and Hail, examining the four passive strategies. Using traditional house designs, this paper created four simulation models for each house, and compared the simulation results with the base case model to determine how well these strategies could affect the energy consumption for residential buildings in Saudi Arabia (KSA). The results indicate that the selected strategies can play an important role in saving energy in residential buildings in the KSA.

This study uses the Aswan Governorate model in southern Upper Egypt to determine the spatial suitability of sustainable urban development in the Egyptian deserts, ensure resource sustainability, and contribute to environmentally sustainable urban and economic growth in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030. To achieve these goals, a GIS-based multicriteria decision-making (GIS-MCDM) approach was used, through an innovative approach for integrating three main indicators: the risk index, environmental sensitivity, and economic resources. These indicators were divided into twenty-four criteria, and their weight was determined according to preference through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). This study serves developmental, national, and expected regional and local development efforts for developing desert regions in the Aswan Governorate, which exceed 80% of the governorate’s area and represent the future of sustainable urban development. This study found three spatial suitability categories, with the largest between 50 and 70% suitability. The first category, with suitability greater than 70%, covers 27.2% of the Aswan Governorate in the north, on both sides of the Nile. Areas with medium spatial suitability, ranging from 50% to 70%, constitute the second category, accounting for 40.3% of the Aswan Governorate, with a concentration in the central regions. The third category includes areas with low spatial suitability, at less than 50%, which make up 32.5% of the governorate.

This study integrates dynamic energy simulation with lifecycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the energy and carbon performance of advanced glazing systems suitable for hot–arid climates. Using Design Builder software coupled with OpenLCA, six glazing configurations were analyzed under identical building and climatic conditions. The configurations included a conventional single 3 mm float glass pane (C0) as the reference case, a single 3 mm polycarbonate sheet (C1) representing common local construction practice, and four advanced multi-layer systems (C2–C5) incorporating air, argon, and nanogel insulation layers. The inclusion of C0 enabled direct comparison between typical glass construction and emerging polycarbonate-based systems, thereby enhancing the contextual relevance of the analysis. Results demonstrated that thermal and optical properties of glazing systems strongly influence both operational and embodied carbon outcomes. Relative to the conventional glass reference (C0), the nanogel–argon composite (C5) achieved a 32.4% reduction in annual cooling energy and a 28.9% decrease in total lifecycle carbon emissions, with a carbon payback period of approximately 1.1 years. The operational phase dominated total emissions (>97%), confirming that improvements in glazing thermal performance yield substantial long-term benefits even when embodied impacts are considered. While argon filling provided marginal benefit over air cavities, the nanogel insulation contributed the largest performance enhancement. However, the relatively low visible light transmittance (VLT = 0.27) of the C5 system suggests a potential daylight–comfort trade-off that warrants further investigation. The study demonstrates the importance of integrating energy simulation with lifecycle assessment to identify glazing systems that balance energy efficiency, embodied carbon, and indoor environmental quality in hot–arid regions.

Electrochromic devices (ECDs) in smart buildings have been advanced as a potential solution for improving energy savings and visual and thermal comfort. The current paper is a review of advanced control strategies for ECDs with respect to predictive, environmental, and adaptive strategies for improving building performance. One of the most frequently employed methods is rule-based control (RBC). RBC is being complemented by more sophisticated model predictive control (MPC) and machine learning (ML) procedures. By adjusting ECD behaviour in dynamic response to changing external circumstances, like daylight, glare, temperature, and solar radiation, these improved techniques ensure a major improvement in real-time adaptivity, energy savings, and occupant comfort. The paper systematically examines ECD control techniques available in the literature, detailing performance indicators, energy conservation, and comfort enhancement for various climatic conditions. It also examines hybrid techniques based on MPC and ML models that tackle the obstacles faced by conventional control systems. Furthermore, their compatibility with renewable energy sources such as PV and thermochromic systems is outlined in relation to net-zero energy buildings. The paper ends with a review of future directions that could lead towards standardization in the form of models, sensor networks and AI-based adaptive frameworks to increase the scale as well as the real-world relevance of ECDs in varying building contexts.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has a hot and arid climate, with the maximum summer temperature above 50°C. This high temperature can significantly hinder energy generation and usage since air conditioning is extensively used during the summer and is the primary cause of energy consumption. These researchers have to develop innovative solutions to overcome the above issues, as these would help decrease energy usage and improve the microclimate. In this study, the researchers have determined the efficiency of having green spaces to improve outdoor thermal comfort and decrease energy consumption in residential complexes that were developed by KSA’s Ministry of Housing (M.o.H). For this purpose, they have used a hybrid model that combined field data analysis and simulation modelling techniques to determine the effect of strategic landscaping on the microclimate and subsequent energy consumption. Their study showed that the integration of green spaces leads to a 3% decrease in annual energy consumption. The results noted in this study implied that the above interventions could improve thermal comfort in hot and arid conditions as they decreased the outdoor temperatures by 1.5°C and increased relative humidity in the area by 10% during the major summer months. The findings highlight how planned landscaping can help address environmental and energy challenges in areas with extreme climates.