Investigation of solar assisted dual function heat pump for application in low energy buildings

This review paper investigates energy consumption in Saudi Arabia with a focus on the residential sector and compares it to the global scale. Furthermore, the paper looks at cooling consumption and looks at recent literature that reports the integration of renewable systems into residential buildings to increase air conditioning efficiency as well as reduce conventional consumption. It focuses on solar and geothermal energy for residential buildings. Due to its abundant sunshine, Saudi Arabia is well-positioned to harness solar energy through photovoltaic (PV) technology. Studies have shown that integrating PV panels into buildings alongside energy-efficient materials offers promising energy savings. Geothermal energy, another renewable resource, can be utilized through ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) that extract heat from the shallow ground source. These systems leverage the Earth's stable temperature for heating and cooling purposes, offering a potentially self-sufficient solution for single houses. Overall, the paper highlights the significant potential of solar and geothermal energy to contribute to a more sustainable energy mix in the residential sector for Saudi Arabia. Further research and development are crucial to optimize these technologies and maximize their benefits for the country.