The potential of building regulations to improve the energy efficiency of high-rise residential buildings in the Gulf Countries

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of building legislation as a means of increasing energy efficiency of high-rise residential buildings in the Gulf countries. This was achieved at three stages in addition to a critical analysis of the available literature, which identified the range of techniques that could be considered in the buildings energy codes in the region to reduce the energy required for coding. The first stage employed a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews; it targeted representatives of governmental bodies and design teams in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The study explored the impact of the building energy regulation on promoting energy efficiency in buildings. It investigated the design teams’ attitudes to the building regulation, and the role building legislation plays in changing the behaviour of the design teams. Finally, it addressed the attitudes of governmental representatives and design teams to energy efficiency. The second stage of the study employed the simulation tool to assess and evaluate the current building regulations that aim to conserve energy in Gulf countries. The study also explored the possibility of improving the existing building code. Based on the analytical study of the simulation a number of measures were proposed to be considered in the building energy code, and a formula for using overall thermal transfer value as a second alternative approach for building energy code in the region was developed. The third stage of the study used questionnaires to gauge the industry response on the proposed regulation, in order to identify the measures that are economically and practically feasible to the community.