Energy and Resource Efficiency Strategies for Middle East Housing :
In recent years, energy efficiency has become a massive topic across the globe. Many countries have started to realise the importance of saving energy for the environment. However, the energy efficiency topic is even more apparent in the Middle East due to the climate change issues the region has been experiencing. This article will highlight possible energy efficiency strategies for Middle East housing.
What is Energy Efficiency?
Energy efficiency is the process of using less energy to perform tasks. For instance, if you decide to turn off lightbulbs that are not in use in your home, you are reducing the amount of energy it takes to light up your house. This is what energy efficiency means in its simplest form.
Why is Energy Efficiency Important in the Middle East?
According to the Washington Institute, the Middle East’s population is expected to increase by 329 million between 2000 and 2050. This additional population will expectedly consume more energy and emit more carbon. The point of energy efficiency is to reduce the power consumed by the growing population.
Another significant benefit of energy efficiency is its contribution to the fight against climate change. Energy efficiency reduces the rate at which Middle Eastern buildings emit carbon, which is the leading cause of climate change.
In addition, energy efficiency has economic benefits. Buildings that reduce their energy consumption are likely to have lower energy bills than buildings that do not. More so, overall energy efficiency will increase the reliability of the Middle East’s power infrastructure, as the grid will likely become more reliable when houses reduce their overall energy consumption.
Given that the Middle East has been battling climate change over the years, energy efficiency is a viable avenue through which the region can reduce its emissions and save costs.
Energy Efficiency Strategies in Middle East Housing
There are energy efficiency strategies that houses can adopt in the Middle East. Some of them include the following:
1. Energy Benchmarking:
Energy benchmarking means tracking the energy usage of your building and comparing it to the energy consumption of other facilities. This will help you understand whether you need to increase your energy efficiency and how to do so.
2. Passive Design:
Passive design is an architectural technique that involves the optimisation of natural heating and cooling sources. The principal aim of passive design is to create comfortable ventilation and heating conditions inside buildings. This way, the facilities will require less energy for heating or cooling.
3. Energy-Efficient Lighting:
Energy-efficient lighting involves using light bulbs that consume less energy. Two primary forms of such light bulbs are compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). This energy efficiency technique will likely reduce your overall energy consumption, save energy costs, and reduce your carbon emissions.
Conclusion
Energy efficiency is undoubtedly vital in the Middle East. This is why more Middle Eastern houses need to pay attention to their energy consumption and look for ways to reduce it.
