Residents’ perceptions towards zero-energy strategies for residential building Saudi Arabia

The building sector is a major contributor to global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, positioning zero-energy home (ZEH) strategies as a critical pathway toward sustainable development. While the technical feasibility of zero-energy buildings has been widely studied, their successful implementation depends largely on residents' awareness, acceptance, and willingness to adopt such strategies. However, empirical evidence examining residents' perceptions of ZEH in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, remains limited. This study investigates Saudi residents' perceptions of zero-energy homes, their awareness of passive and active ZEH strategies, and the key barriers hindering their adoption. A structured three-part survey was distributed across Saudi Arabia, yielding 411 valid responses. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to examine awareness levels, behavioral intentions, and current practices, while thematic analysis was applied to identify perceived obstacles. The findings reveal a substantial knowledge gap, with 45% of respondents unfamiliar with the concept of zero-energy homes. Despite this limited awareness, most participants recognized the environmental benefits of ZEH and expressed a willingness to invest in such homes. Passive strategies, including insulation and natural ventilation, were more widely recognized and adopted than active strategies such as photovoltaic systems and advanced HVAC technologies. Four primary barriers to adoption were identified: high initial costs, lack of technical expertise, insufficient public awareness, and inadequate infrastructure for retrofitting existing homes. This study contributes user-centric empirical evidence to the body of knowledge on zero-energy homes in a hot-climate, oil-dependent context and highlights the need for targeted policy interventions, public awareness programs, and industry capacity building.