Dr. Muhammad Asif Associate Professor, Architectural Engineering Department, KFUPM DESIGN FOR ZERO ENERGY HOMES TO ADDRESS ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN KSA Abstract: Saudi Arabia is facing enormous energy and environmental challenges. With the annual demand for electricity growing at a rate of 6%, the country is ranked amongst the highest in the world in terms of per capita energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The buildings sector account for almost 80% of the electricity used in the country while the residential sector alone consumes over 50% of the national electricity. Official forecasts suggest that to meet the demand of growing population, the country needs to build 230 thousands new homes annually through to 2020. The situation is potentially going to have huge ramifications for the energy sector. It is therefore critical for Saudi Arabia to promote sustainability in the building sector in general and in the residential sector in particular. Zero Energy Homes (ZEHs) can be an appropriate solution in this respect. The presentation investigates the technical viability of ZEHs in Saudi Arabia taking into account the five inhabited climatic zones represented by major cities: Dhahran, Guriat, Riyadh, Jeddah and Khamis Mushait. Employing appropriate sustainable design features, energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technologies, it also presents model of a typical ZEH for Saudi nationals developed with the help of the Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) software. It also discusses the acceptability of ZEHs within various construction industry stakeholders and consumers. Biography: Dr Muhammad Asif is an Associate Professor in the Architectural Engineering Department at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) since 2013. He is Charted Engineer, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) and Member of the Energy Institute (UK). He sits on several international forums including the accreditation panel of the Energy Institute. He completed PhD in Applied Energy Engineering from Edinburgh (UK) in 2002 and has held fulltime faculty positions for over 10 years in British Universities. He is regularly invited for teaching renewable and sustainable energy courses by various universities in Germany, Spain, Austria and Turkey. His areas of research interest include renewable energy, sustainable buildings, energy conservation and management and life cycle assessment. He has authored over 50 research publications including a research monograph. His publications are highly cited with one of his articles having received over 325 citations. His work has been referred in various European policy documents and directives. Dr Asif has supervised 8 PhD and 2 MPhil projects to successful completion. He is actively involved in academic and industrial collaborations. He has provided consultancy services to a number of prominent international organisations including European Commission, Nor-Dan (Norway) and BAE Systems (UK). He has also contributed to the Annual Strategic Studies for the Industry Collaboration Program of KAUST. Currently he is leading a large international consortium as the Principal Investigator on a large Building Energy research project for the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE).” have following two topics I can present about and these fit with your 'Sustainability in the Built Environment' and 'Green Building' themes. I can select one of these. • Design for Zero Energy Homes to Address Energy and Environmental Problems in KSA • Potential for Rain Water Harvesting in KSA to Mitigate Water Scarcity and Flooding Problems