Uthman Alamri
Building performance – Sustainability – Phase Change Material – Building Science – Modular Housing – Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Uthman Alamri is a faculty member in the architectural engineering department at Imam Mohamed Ibn Saud University located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Uthman has a B.Sc. in Architecture, an M.Sc. in Architecture in Design and Energy Conservation, and an M.S. in Building Construction Science and Management. In addition, Uthman is a visiting scholar who is pursuing a Ph.D. in Architecture.
Uthman’s research interest is in climate-responsive design in hot-arid lands as found in Saudi Arabia. His research interest in the interaction between buildings and the environment was developed while pursuing his M.Sc. Recently his Ph.D. research has been focused on building envelope design and how this affects indoor human thermal comfort and building performance.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) aims to reduce CO2 emissions and mitigate its environmental impact as part of the country’s Vision 2030. KSA’s building sector is an area of particular concern, with an average consumption that is double the global residential average and the highest among other local sectors, rendering it a major obstacle to achieving KSA’s Vision 2030 goals. High cooling loads comprise 70% of the residential sector’s energy consumption, largely due to the use of uninsulated thermal mass and affordable subsidized electricity rates. Excessive consumption, accentuated by the high construction demand and subsequent labor shortage caused by Vision 2030’s housing projects, requires KSA to consider alternatives to its current housing construction standards. The efficient modular housing approach is one answer to the labor shortage, but for modular housing to be effective, lighter materials must be used for its construction.
Thus, Uthman investigates replacing thermal mass with phase change materials (PCM) and investigating PCM’s application in modular housing construction using the EnergyPlus simulation tool. The investigation includes optimizing PCM thickness and placement, determining the feasibility of applying PCM as cost-effective through life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA), and comparing these costs to subsequent energy savings. Additionally, the research will establish the maximum PCM production cost for the material to represent reliable investment and promote competition in KSA’s construction industry.
View publications on Uthman's Scholar profile.