The six Middle East countries within the GCC are situated in one of the most challenging environments on the planet. With temperatures soaring above 50 degrees Celsius on hot summer days and limited access to water in the arid desert lands, the region faces unique challenges in terms of housing and energy consumption.
Sahin Akin, a PhD candidate at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's (NTNU) Industrial Ecology Programme (IndEcol), sheds light on the situation. Akin's research forms part of a broader effort at IndEcol to investigate regional disparities in residential buildings worldwide. These buildings play a critical role, accounting for 21 percent of global energy consumption and contributing to 30 percent of the global carbon footprint from materials production.
Understanding Building Types
To comprehensively analyze the situation, Akin and his colleagues developed 153 simulation models, consolidated into six distinct housing archetypes that represent typical housing in the Gulf region. These models provide insights into the evolving housing landscape, driven primarily by the region's newfound oil wealth.
Oil Wealth, Urbanization, and the Rise of Villas
Before the advent of oil wealth, traditional housing characterized the Gulf region. These structures were built using indigenous construction techniques and locally sourced materials, such as mud, adobe, and wood. They excelled in terms of environmental performance, designed for passive cooling without the need for energy-intensive air conditioning.
However, the discovery of oil wealth triggered rapid urbanization and the construction of a housing type referred to as villas. These multi-story structures, designed to accommodate extended families and adhere to Islamic practices with separate entrances for men and women, began to dominate the landscape. Despite representing only 22 percent of the total housing units in the Gulf region, villas accounted for over half of the total floor area. These spacious structures, averaging 62 square meters per person, nearly double the global average of 32 square meters per person, often came with high energy demands.
Akin's analysis revealed that more populous countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE exhibited high total energy consumption, while smaller, higher GDP per capita nations like Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain displayed higher energy consumption per capita. This trend was attributed to the prevalence of villas in smaller countries, known for their higher energy consumption compared to other building types.
Population Growth and Its Role
Oil wealth also fueled population growth in the region, surging from 7.7 million in 1970 to 59.5 million in 2022, with projections indicating an increase to 73.4 million by 2050, according to United Nations data. Improved child survival rates and job opportunities attracted immigrants, leading to a diverse population in Gulf countries. This demographic shift contributed to differences in energy use and materials, with native populations often residing in villas, while expatriates found housing in apartments or condominiums.
The Impact of Regulations
While newly constructed villas, with their increased living space, tended to be more energy-intensive, one exception stood out. Oman, despite a relatively high percentage of villas in its building stock, exhibited much lower energy consumption per capita than other Gulf countries. This anomaly was attributed to Oman's adherence to cultural traditions and regulations promoting Islamic architecture. For instance, building regulations required white exteriors to reflect the sun's rays, reducing solar heating.
However, Bahrain, the smallest and least populous country in the region, displayed higher per capita energy consumption than the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. Researchers speculated that various factors, including lifestyle, climate, and building design, contributed to this discrepancy.
The Significance of Building Materials
Concrete emerged as a key concern in the Gulf region's construction practices. Cement, the primary component of concrete, contributes nearly three times as much to global warming as air transport during its production. Concrete structures in the region often lacked insulation, especially without mandatory building regulations, leading to excessive use of air conditioning. Traditional houses constructed with local materials offered a more environmentally friendly alternative, with lower emissions and energy-efficient designs suited for the hot climate.
Addressing the Challenges
Akin reported that implementing energy conservation measures in Gulf States' residential buildings could potentially reduce energy use by up to 70 percent. This substantial reduction is significant, considering that residential buildings account for 70 percent of all energy consumption in the region.
In light of these findings, Akin and his colleagues propose exploring renewable energy sources such as thermal solar, photovoltaic solar, and geothermal energy, taking advantage of the region's hot and sunny climate. They believe that their research can aid countries in identifying opportunities to reduce emissions and develop resource-efficient construction practices and tailored policies to enhance building resource efficiency. Understanding the current state of affairs and the evolving building typologies is crucial for effective climate mitigation in the Gulf region.
As the Gulf region grapples with its energy-intensive housing trends and their environmental consequences, policymakers, stakeholders, and the international community must consider these research findings as a roadmap to a more sustainable future. Tailored strategies and investments in green technologies can pave the way toward a greener and more environmentally responsible Gulf.
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Norwegian University of Science and Technology
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