The main principles of green building design:

The following general principles can be applied to environmentally friendly (Green)

architectural design:

1- The design of housing according to the general climate of the area.

2- Making use of local architecture: These buildings have been developed to be able to

deal with the local climate and conditions and have reached architectural solutions that

suit the local conditions.

3- Functional architectural design for various spaces.

4- Garden design and surrounding areas.

3.1 Choosing Green Building Materials:

1- The use of materials that conserve the environment or the use of materials that can be

reused or used as an agricultural material when disposed of.

2- Choosing building materials that conserve natural resources.

3- Building materials that are free of substances harmful to nature and humans.

4- Building materials that have little negative impact on their surroundings when used in

building.

5- Building materials that help directly and indirectly at saving energy.

6- Building materials that ensure public safety and health in the inner space.

7- Water conservation

3.2. The Environmental side of the Traditional House:

the traditional house in the OC has the reputation to it's

climate responsive, and has an Environmentally Friendly

concept.

The area’s climate in general is hot and dry;

known for strong sunshine which heats the dry winds

another cause of high temperatures.

This hot environment has driven life indoors;

whether it is in the home or the neighborhood

or in the city as a whole, the inner courtyard is

considered a successful architectural solution

emerging from the essence of oriental ideas and

an effective solution to the demands of this harsh climate.

This traditional architecture has the added

advantage that all houses have four aspects

so each room can be used for a purpose most suited to its aspect e.g. these houses have a summer sitting room facing north distinct from their

winter sitting room.

The courtyard functions to reduce extremes of variation of air temperature, providing fresh air for

the house and isolating the house from external noise.

The traditional Arabic house has thick, solid outer walls;

inner walls are also thick but are punctuated by openings

to the inner courtyard. The thickness of the walls limits

heat transfer and acts as natural insulation, so the room

temperature is warm in winter and cool in summer.

In the traditional house the proportional measurements

of the inner courtyard vary, ranging from 1:1, 2:1, 3:4,

in a horizontal section and 2:1 in the vertical section.