INGENIEUR
INGENIEUR
system design of buildings . Each material used has its own criteria . Therefore , it should be placed according to its nature and performance .
Understanding the choice of building materials that meets local needs is essential in the design , building detail and specification writing stage . Lightweight steel materials are good heat conductors and require insulation if used . Using wicks iron roofing i . e . zinc instead of the nipah roofing used in Malay houses is a major mistake . The heat streamed by this roof causes an increase in internal temperature . The use of this material requires additional insulation materials to block the heat flow and requires additional roof height so that the heat can be reduced .
These are basic principles that need to be understood before we take further action on energy conservation . Some initial steps concerning the basic design of the building need to be taken at the planning , designing and construction stage . Consideration needs to be made on micro climate control and passive control before considering the use of active controls . Using an active control method such as air conditioners , without taking into account other forms of prefixing are a mistake and the root cause of much wastage . In summary , understanding the basics of building design is a must before any other steps are undertaken to minimize energy wastage .
Most sophisticated modern buildings employ almost 90 % of their control through active controls involving electricity to function . This is proven when almost all these buildings use air conditioning devices to control the internal environment , elevators and escalators for vertical connectivity , lighting and computerized equipment to operate . It is therefore desirable to think about how to save energy costs through a variety of methods that will ultimately help reduce the cost of building operations and maintenance . In most cases of institutional and administrative buildings , the cost of energy alone is almost 50 to 60 % of the total cost of building maintenance .
Apart from taking into account passive and active design features of buildings , the Malaysian Government , in collaboration with other Government agencies , has also implemented various initiatives of green technology that could help save energy and reduce carbon emissions . Included among them are : a ) Programmes on green practice awareness campaigns among residents and maintainers of buildings where a series of basic training has been carried out in relation to green technology practices ; b ) Retrofit programmes by the Public Works Department and KeTTHA in the 11 th Malaysia Plan . For example , by the end of 2016 , retrofit works had been carried out at the Prime Minister ’ s Department Complex ( JPM ) ( Block B1 to Block B8 ) and completed on January 31 , 2017 with energy savings evident after the work . It is estimated that an amount of RM750,000 will be saved for the first five months of 2017 with 20 % electricity savings ; c ) Implementing energy efficient management practices in tender specifications for facility management contractors executed by the Public Works Department . This is to ensure that the contractors managing the facilities in Government buildings implement energyefficient management practices throughout their contract period ; d ) Incorporate minimum requirements of MS1525 : Code of Practice on Use of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for Non-residential Buildings in design specifications to ensure the design of new buildings meets the characteristics of energy-efficient buildings ; and e ) Guidelines on the implementation of energy conservation directives through temperature setting at a minimum of 24 ° C in all Government ’ s buildings need to be distributed to all Government Ministries , departments and agencies as a measure of reducing Government utility costs .
BUILDING CASE STUDIES
In order to support the Government ’ s energy saving objectives , the Ministry of Works ( KKR ) energysaving initiatives , with and without costs , with 5 % savings on the cost of utilities of its agencies has been achieved . The Public Works Department ( JKR ) has responded to the recommendations of the KKR to make the Ministry of Works Complex and JKR Complex as models for other Government agencies .
10 VOL 71 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2017