Sustainability encompasses a blend of environmental, economic and social responsibility.
Sustainability assessment is a means of measuring how effectively the built environment is meeting
the requirements of sustainable development. The Middle Eastern regions records in the 1980's
especially KSA, due to demographic growth, there has been; population increase, climate change, land
exploitation and water shortage; thus tending environmental issues. Latterly, there has been an
increase in the Arab concern as to environmental issues.
Saudi Arabia, being one of the top 15 countries in the world in terms of primary energy use, due to a
rapid increase in economic and industrial growth. Records from Saudi Electricity company ' SCECO'
bespeak that; almost 80% of total energy is use in the building sectors, with 70% resulting from use of
HVAC systems. KSA recorded a 7% yearly consumption in petroleum for local use, by 2038,
petroleum production will be diverted to local consumption- (Royal British Institute for Strategic
studies). Withal, Middle east countries especially KSA are far behind from practicing the concept of
mitigating the impacts of buildings on the environment.
This paper entails an exclusive questionnaire study on; Policy makers ( Government bodies such as
'Real-estate'), Architects/ designer, Contractors, and the end user as to sustainability application in
general. Notwithstanding, analysis indicated; insufficient awareness of building stakeholders, lack of
national sustainability assessment policy, which takes the location and the context of the building in
KSA that deviate the people from caring for environmental and economic issues related to
sustainability.
The purpose for this paper is to; highlight the obstacles faced in applying sustainability in the building
sector of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) by various stakeholders.
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