Sustainable-Eco-Buildings Assessment Method SEBAM for Evaluation of Residential Areas in Hot-Dry Climate

This research aimed to investigate the present situation regarding residential neighbourhood in hot-dry climates. The area of study comprised four urban classes in Greater Khartoum. The problems of residential buildings were examined, aiming to find a sustainable assessment method for evaluating residential areas and their services The methodology of the research began with a literature review for identifying passive and sustainable solutions suitable to hot-dry climates. This method employed eight main categories- sustainable sites, indoor environmental quality, outdoor thermal control, building forms, materials and resources, water supply, power supply systems, and environmental plan processes and CO2 emisions. In addition, a points scale was used, based on ratings of ‘Excellent’, ‘V. Good’, ‘Good’, and ‘Pass’, with a total of 125 points to determine the evaluation result for a building. The study evaluated an urban sample in the Al Taief neighbourhood. A survey was initiated by identifying the standards for selecting the case study, the survey studied 48 cases in the residential areas, analysed the collected data, and then summarised it into tables and figures. The results presented indicated that 19% were Good, 25% were Pass, and 56% were considered ‘weak’. The conclusions and recommendations regarding urban housing services can be applied to sustainable ecological neighbourhoods.