Heuristic Approach for Net-Zero Energy Residential Buildings in Arid Region Using Dual Renewable Energy Sources

Optimizing a net-zero energy (NZE) residential building using what renewable resources are available in desert environments and budgeted within the limits of governmental construction project is proving to be increasingly challenging for many countries, including Kingdom Saudi Arabia (KSA). Buildings such regions encounter significantly high annual consumption rates, especially cooling capacity across project’s life cycle, which turn impacts investment value. Therefore, this study presents heuristic approach that aimed examine feasibility NZE buildings KSA an arid campus case period 2021–2022 based on dual sources geothermal heat pump (GHP), served as system, photovoltaic thermal collectors (PVT) serving power generation system. This adopted numerical technical assessment study, HAP software analyze heating/cooling systems, PVsyst V7.1.0 variable simulation solar systems. approach, through two stages, achieved significant outcomes sustainable bottom-line, provide practical achieving King Faisal University (KFU) well reduction maintenance cost, has positive consequence payback period. Our study’s results have implications both green with similar characteristics those we investigated, our could used develop installation guidelines Furthermore, can decision makers basis retrofitting existing enhance their efficiency, increase value, prevent indiscriminate merely rate.