PASSIVE AND HYBRID TECHNIQUES FOR LOW COST ENERGY EFFECIENTHOUSINGIN HOT DRY CLIMATE

The main consumer of electricity in Egypt is the residential sector which accounts for 42% of the total consumption, followed by the industrial sector (28%). The consumption of the residential sector has been steadily increasing in the recent years. According to the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, this is due to two factors: the expansion of residential compounds and new communities as well as the use of domestic appliances, air conditioners in particular, during hot weather. Egyptis in a real need to change the "business-as-usual” approachin housing projects to overcome the major challengeof the hot dry climate whilerespecting the economic factors taking into consideration that increasingpopulation and housing projects will affect negatively theenergy demand in the comingfew years.This paper willexplorethe main passive andhybrid designtechniquesforlow cost energy efficient housing in hot arid climate.Itwill reviewsix international case studiesworldwideshowing their energy efficiency practice and their methods to overcome climate and cost challenges using passive and hybrid techniques along with using local materials and renewable energy. The paper will recommendsome of these techniques to be implemented in Egypt.