The retrofitting of existing residential buildings to achieve Near-Zero Energy Homes (NZEH) is crucial for global energy conservation and sustainability. As urbanisation and energy consumption increase, efficient energy use in residential buildings becomes increasingly important. This study is consistent with Saudi 2030 Vision Agenda, offering a model for other regions and emphasising the significance of sustainable development practices. By focusing on the residential sector, this study addresses a major area of energy consumption, providing practical solutions to reduce energy usage and promote environmental stewardship. Furthermore, the study presents a rigorous methodology for retrofitting existing residential buildings to achieve NZEH, centring on a residential villa in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. DesignBuilder simulation tools were employed to systematically reduce energy consumption. Initially, a baseline scenario was constructed and verified against actual monthly electricity bills to ensure accuracy. The subsequent phase involved analysing 128 cases to determine the optimal configuration of the building's outer shell, considering key design variables like windows glazing, local shading devices and thermal insulation. The final phase integrated photovoltaic (PV) cells into the optimised model to generate sufficient energy, thereby attaining near-zero energy consumption annually. This methodology demonstrates the potential for substantial energy reductions in existing homes, advancing sustainable urban development and energy efficiency targets. The findings of this study reveal that the base-case scenario, with no retrofitting, had an annual energy consumption of 60,641 kWh. Optimising facade elements alone reduced energy consumption by 62 %, down to 37,801 kWh annually. The integrated PV systems further decreased net annual energy consumption to 9489 kWh, representing an 84 % reduction compared to the base case.

Climate change impacts have been increasingly noticeable worldwide, especially as energy concerns have increased. Because buildings consume significant amounts of energy, sustainably retrofitting existing buildings has become essential. However, several countries are pretty concerned about the affordability of retrofitting and energy conservation measures. Therefore, this research assesses the affordability of selected passive heating and cooling retrofitting strategies using the residual approach methodology. Specifically, this work studies the effects and efficiency of retrofitting the residential buildings in Irbid, Jordan, through life cycle analysis, where dynamic thermal simulation (IES-VE) is employed. This strategy determines the required heating and cooling loads, the life cycle carbon dioxide emissions, and the economic feasibility of retrofitting using the Net Present Value methodology. The results show that passive building retrofitting can generate considerable economic and environmental benefits. Additionally, the affordability assessment reveals that retrofitting measures are affordable for 73-78% of Jordanian households. Furthermore, retrofitting makes the energy required for building conditioning affordable for 82.8-85.8% of households. This affordability assessment proved that the initial investment cost of retrofitting is the major obstacle to implementing it, especially for low-income households, despite the long-term economic and environmental benefits of this process. Thus, governmental financial support for the retrofitting projects would support achieving the sustainable development goals and mitigating climate change impacts.

Improvement of recreational areas between the residential areas to achieve human behavior and the concept of humanization is urgently needed to achieve the 2030 vision of Saudi Arabia. This study aims to develop a parametric urban optimization framework to optimize the outdoor thermal comfort in outdoor recreational areas between residential buildings in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia, based on the 2030 vision of Saudi Arabia to achieve a high standard of quality of life with thermal comfort. Measurement was conducted inside the sports walking path with walk-through observation and interviews. Then, case study geometry was generated computationally, using Rhinoceros software and its plug-in Grasshopper to implement the set of development scenarios. Then, the optimization process for the case study was integrated with 192 proposed development solutions to assess the solutions’ influence in reducing the Universal Thermal Comfort Index (UTCI) and average solar irradiance, besides increasing energy generated by PV panels. EnergyPlus engine and Ladybug plug-in are used to integrate PV panels with shading scenarios, to utilize the high solar irradiation, and to calculate the generated electrical energy. The results concluded that trees with diameters between 10 and 15 m could achieve thermal comfort and reduction UTCI by 11.26 K and average solar irradiance by 642.77 W/m² with average energy generation of PV panel and optimum inclination angle of 20°. The integration of PV with shading scenarios generates electricity for every square meter of PV panel, equal to 578.84 kWh/m² for lighting poles and service areas within the recreational areas. The results of this study help to improve the current park as a prototype, for which results can be implemented in more than 8100 instances of gardens, parks, and municipal squares in Saudi Arabia.

During the recent founding of Saudi Arabia in 1932, there was no interest in the urban and architectural heritage that Jeddah possesses. As a result, historic Jeddah was exposed to many problems similar to many historical Middle Eastern cities. For example, the historic city wall and many heritage buildings were demolished. With the economic recovery during the 1970s, the original dwellers abandoned the city altogether. They were soon replaced by a class of ex-patriate workers who would inhabit the area, and the city’s distinct heritage fell into neglect. At the beginning of the 1980s, attempts to preserve that area began with the expert Robert Matthew, who studied the remaining historical buildings and proposed strategies for preservation that were based on three main directions: restoration, replacement, or new construction. The issuance of “Saudi’s 2030 vision” included programs to develop Saudi cities, including Jeddah. This program includes the removal of unplanned and slum areas around historic Jeddah without developing a clear master plan for what will replace them. In addition, it includes the complete expropriation of historic Jeddah, without announcing a specific plan for what the area will be used for. Therefore, this study seeks to review current preservation strategies, with the aim of reaching results related to the challenges facing the area; demonstrating the effectiveness of the preservation strategies used; and deducing what could contribute in the future to the development, preservation, and optimal exploitation of the area, without losing its value as a result of the modernization processes currently taking place.

In the context of global climate change, there is a projected increase in land surface temperature (LST) worldwide, amplifying its impacts. This poses a particular concern for countries with hot climates, including the Kingdom of Bahrain as an example for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC), which are countries with a hot climate. With a surge in population growth, there is a heightened demand for land to accommodate additional residential developments, creating an opportunity to investigate the influence of land use changes on LST variations. To achieve this goal, a residential development project spanning from 2013 to 2023 was undertaken. Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS remote sensing datasets were selected for four climate seasons, each set comprising images before and after development. The analysis involved extracting the LST, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and Normalized Difference Built-Up Index (NDBI) on various dates, followed by correlation and regression analyses to explore their interrelationships. The results revealed a significant increase in the mean LST during spring and autumn post-development. A consistent positive association between the LST and NDBI was observed across all seasons, strengthening after development completion. Conversely, there was a pre-development negative correlation between the LST and NDVI, shifting to a positive relationship post-development. These findings empirically support the idea that small-scale residential developments contribute to notable LST increases, primarily due to expanded impervious surfaces. These insights have the potential to inform localized adaptation strategies for small-scale residential development projects, crucial for managing the impacts of rising land surface temperatures.

Saudi Arabian cities have rapidly expanded their urban areas, especially their city centers, over the last four decades. This growth has led to increased vehicular usage. As a result, the daily walking experience for residents has been adversely affected. Walkability has several positive effects on people’s health and the urban environment. It serves as a means of transportation and helps create a sense of place. This enhances the legibility of urban structures and deepens emotional bonds with the city. This study uses the medium-sized Saudi Arabian city of Onaizah as a case study. It explores the feasibility of creating urban walking corridors to encourage more walking. According to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, sustainable urban development and improved quality of life are key priorities. The study addresses walkability as a way to enhance the urban landscape of the city center. Geographic Information Systems (GISs) were used to analyze data and generate urban corridors in the city center. The results indicate that walking in Onaizah can be improved through three urban corridors. These corridors measure 1335 m, 1624 m, and 1937 m, respectively. They represent urban, commercial, and heritage corridors. This provides planners and decision makers an opportunity to prioritize pedestrian connectivity and improve the physical environment. Such efforts contribute to sustainable urban development. Various criteria-analysis methods were employed to assess the factors that led to the conclusion of these urban corridors. This includes evaluations of land use, transportation, and environmental considerations. The study aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by promoting walking and enhancing overall walkability. It also aims to create a sustainable and livable urban environment for the community in Onaizah.