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<p>Saudi Arabia’s arid climate, characterized by high cooling degree days, necessitates significant electricity consumption for air conditioning, which accounts for approximately 70% of the building electricity demand. This study investigated the thermal behavior and energy performance of two distinct room configurations (20 and 12 m<sup>2</sup>, containing 5 and 3 beds, respectively) in a high-density pilgrim hostel in Makkah through physical measurements and building energy simulations. Dry bulb temperatures were continuously monitored in each room for approximately two weeks (March 28–April 11, 2026), and a dynamic thermal model was subsequently developed and calibrated against the empirical data to evaluate the structural thermal performance. The calibration exhibited a high correlation between the monitored and simulated results, validating the reliability of the model. Ultimately, the larger room configuration exhibited superior energy efficiency; specifically, the 20 m<sup>2</sup> room consumed approximately 7% less cooling energy per unit area than the 12 m<sup>2</sup> room (170 vs. 182 kWh/m<sup>2</sup>, respectively). This study demonstrates that room configuration and structural boundaries mitigate cooling demands more significantly than occupant density effects, highlighting the priority of geometric optimization in retrofitting protocols.</p>

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Impact of room configuration on energy use intensity in high-density pilgrim accommodations: a case study in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月8日

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  • Mosaab Alaboud,
  • Naif Sultan Alaboud

摘要

Saudi Arabia’s arid climate, characterized by high cooling degree days, necessitates significant electricity consumption for air conditioning, which accounts for approximately 70% of the building electricity demand. This study investigated the thermal behavior and energy performance of two distinct room configurations (20 and 12 m2, containing 5 and 3 beds, respectively) in a high-density pilgrim hostel in Makkah through physical measurements and building energy simulations. Dry bulb temperatures were continuously monitored in each room for approximately two weeks (March 28–April 11, 2026), and a dynamic thermal model was subsequently developed and calibrated against the empirical data to evaluate the structural thermal performance. The calibration exhibited a high correlation between the monitored and simulated results, validating the reliability of the model. Ultimately, the larger room configuration exhibited superior energy efficiency; specifically, the 20 m2 room consumed approximately 7% less cooling energy per unit area than the 12 m2 room (170 vs. 182 kWh/m2, respectively). This study demonstrates that room configuration and structural boundaries mitigate cooling demands more significantly than occupant density effects, highlighting the priority of geometric optimization in retrofitting protocols.