IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i11p2868-d1668783.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Role of Wastewater Treatment Strategy for Enhancing Energy and Circular Economy in a Residential Building

Author

Listed:
  • Abdulaziz Almalki

    (Department of Building Engineering, College of Architecture and Planning, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Hassan Alkhalaf

    (Department of Building Engineering, College of Architecture and Planning, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Ibrahem Namazi

    (Department of Building Engineering, College of Architecture and Planning, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Abdullah Qahtani

    (Department of Building Engineering, College of Architecture and Planning, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Salah Alghamdi

    (Department of Building Engineering, College of Architecture and Planning, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31451, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Water scarcity and energy consumption are two pressing global challenges, especially in arid regions, that require sustainable solutions in line with circular economic principles. This study investigates the feasibility of greywater recycling systems for a 10-floor residential building housing 425 occupants by optimizing non-potable water demand and energy consumption. The grey-box modeling approach and energy balance optimization analysis are used to identify effective practices for implementing greywater recycling through the evaluation of environmental and economic effects on the performance of residential buildings. The findings are that there are 18% and 40% savings in water and energy, respectively, with greywater recycling systems. The research concludes that maximum treatment and recovery efficiencies significantly enhance the performance of the systems. Thus, there are 2.25 million kWh of annual energy savings that can repay itself in 4.42 years, as well as savings in the long-term consequences. These findings contribute further to achieving the UN-SDGs on Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6) and Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7). This study contributes to a better understanding of optimizing greywater recycling systems that are practical and scalable for residential use and promote sustainable urban development with minimal environmental impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdulaziz Almalki & Hassan Alkhalaf & Ibrahem Namazi & Abdullah Qahtani & Salah Alghamdi, 2025. "The Role of Wastewater Treatment Strategy for Enhancing Energy and Circular Economy in a Residential Building," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-21, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:11:p:2868-:d:1668783
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/11/2868/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/11/2868/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marwa M. Waly & Slobodan B. Mickovski & Craig Thomson, 2023. "Application of Circular Economy in Oil and Gas Produced Water Treatment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-19, January.
    2. Chandra Mouli R. Madhuranthakam & Malak AbuZaid & Omar Chaalal & Tala Ghannam, 2023. "Sustainable Water Management with Design and Economic Evaluation of Recycling Greywater at Abu Dhabi University—A Case Study on Decentralization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-17, November.
    3. Kirchherr, Julian & Reike, Denise & Hekkert, Marko, 2017. "Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 221-232.
    4. Sabina Kordana-Obuch & Mariusz Starzec & Michał Wojtoń & Daniel Słyś, 2023. "Greywater as a Future Sustainable Energy and Water Source: Bibliometric Mapping of Current Knowledge and Strategies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-34, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pina Puntillo, 2023. "Circular economy business models: Towards achieving sustainable development goals in the waste management sector—Empirical evidence and theoretical implications," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 941-954, March.
    2. Tina Wiegand & Martin Wynn, 2023. "Sustainability, the Circular Economy and Digitalisation in the German Textile and Clothing Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-30, June.
    3. German Arana‐Landin & Waleska Sigüenza & Beñat Landeta‐Manzano & Iker Laskurain‐Iturbe, 2024. "Circular economy: On the road to ISO 59000 family of standards," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 1977-2009, May.
    4. Abdulmajeed Almadhi & Abdelhakim Abdelhadi & Rakan Alyamani, 2023. "Moving from Linear to Circular Economy in Saudi Arabia: Life-Cycle Assessment on Plastic Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-22, July.
    5. Hu, Xueyue & Wang, Chunying & Elshkaki, Ayman, 2024. "Material-energy Nexus: A systematic literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    6. Sergio Cappucci & Serena Nappi & Andrea Cappelli, 2022. "Green Public Areas and Urban Open Spaces Management: New GreenCAL Tool Algorithms and Circular Economy Implications," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-25, June.
    7. Monia Niero & Charlotte L. Jensen & Chiara Farné Fratini & Jens Dorland & Michael S. Jørgensen & Susse Georg, 2021. "Is life cycle assessment enough to address unintended side effects from Circular Economy initiatives?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(5), pages 1111-1120, October.
    8. Flavio Eduardo Fava & Lucílio Rogério Aparecido Alves & Thiago Libório Romanelli, 2025. "Economic Feasibility and Decarbonization Incentives of Sugarcane Biogas Production Pathways," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, February.
    9. Thomas Dobbelstein & Carina Lochner, 2023. "Factors influencing purchase intention for recycled products: A comparative analysis of Germany and South Africa," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(4), pages 2256-2277, August.
    10. Jaroslaw Golebiewski & Josu Takala & Oskar Juszczyk & Nina Drejerska, 2019. "Local contribution to circular economy. A case study of a Polish rural municipality," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 21(3), pages 771-791.
    11. Risa Arai & Martin Calisto Friant & Walter J. V. Vermeulen, 2024. "The Japanese Circular Economy and Sound Material-Cycle Society Policies: Discourse and Policy Analysis," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 619-650, March.
    12. Franco Fassio & Chiara Chirilli, 2023. "The Circular Economy and the Food System: A Review of Principal Measuring Tools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-22, June.
    13. S. Bhattacharya & R. Ajwani-Ramchandani & Shishir Kumar Jha & C.J. Chiappetta Jabbour & V.G. Venkatesh, 2023. "Prologue for the Virtual Special Issue on Social Circular Consumption- Exploring the Role of the Bottom of Pyramid," Post-Print hal-04458204, HAL.
    14. Eugenia Rossi di Schio & Vincenzo Ballerini & Jan Kašpar & Manuela Neri & Mariagrazia Pilotelli & Edoardo Alessio Piana & Paolo Valdiserri, 2024. "Applicability of Face Masks as Recyclable Raw Materials for Self-Made Insulation Panels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-15, March.
    15. Mădălina Tocan & Oana Chindriș-Văsioiu, 2024. "Circular And Green Economy – A Comparative Analysis Of The Current State In Romania And In The Eu," Global Economic Observer, "Nicolae Titulescu" University of Bucharest, Faculty of Economic Sciences;Institute for World Economy of the Romanian Academy, vol. 12(1), pages 95-105, June.
    16. Dumitru Alexandru Bodislav & Liviu Cătălin Moraru & Raluca Iuliana Georgescu & George Eduard Grigore & Oana Vlăduț & Gabriel Ilie Staicu & Alina Ștefania Chenic, 2025. "Recyclable Consumption and Its Implications for Sustainable Development in the EU," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-36, April.
    17. Pedro Antonio Martín-Cervantes & Parisa Ziarati & Pablo de Frutos Madrazo & Iza Gigauri, 2025. "Digital Marketing as a Driver of Change Towards the Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-24, June.
    18. Mia B. Münster, 2024. "Adaptive Reuse: Atmospherics in Buildings Repurposed as Coffee Shops," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-32, February.
    19. D. D’Amato, 2021. "Sustainability Narratives as Transformative Solution Pathways: Zooming in on the Circular Economy," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 231-242, June.
    20. Florian Fizaine, 2021. "La croissance verte est-elle durable et compatible avec l’économie circulaire ? Une approche par l’identité IPAT," Post-Print hal-03884377, HAL.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:11:p:2868-:d:1668783. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.