1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN
Centre for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia (MASSA)
BUILDING SCIENCE 1
Case Study: Identifying innovative passive design strategies
Project: GEO Building
Architect: Ruslan Khalid Assiociates
Tutor : Miss Suja
Name IC/MyKad No Student ID No
1 Fam Li Kian 950101135270 0310639
2 Leong Carmen 930819086182 0314953
3 Kian Soon Jean 930318105920 0314978
4 Wong Jian Kai 940304015675 0314794
5 Yiew Qunhe 940920015839 0314809
6 Yaseen Fatima Syed bn806368 0309021
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CONTENT
INTRODUCTION PAGES
General information 3
Building Green Design Strategies 4-5
Orthographic Drawing 6-7
Climate Data 8-9
i. Temperature
ii. Relative Humidity
iii. Psychrometric Chart
Wind Speed and Direction 10-11
Sunpath & Lighting 11-12
i. Shadow Range Diagram
ii. Annual Sunpath
iii. Daily Sunpath Diagram
PASSIVE DESIGN FEATURES
Basic Building Design 13-17
i. Build Orientation
ii. Building Configuration
iii. Insulation
Windows and Roof light 18-20
i. Window
ii. Roof light
REFERENCE 21
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INTRODUCTION
The GEO building shows implementation of integrated design concepts, where active and passive
energy systems are interwoven into the building itself, and where several building elements also
serve as energy systems. This helps in bringing the extra costs of the building down. Advanced
computer design tools have been used throughout the design process. Designed at a time when the
awareness of building green is still at its infancy in this country, its energy efficient features scored
full points under the Energy Efficiency and Innovation criteria of the GBI.
Project Information
Type: Low Carbon Emission Office
Location: Bandar Baru Bangi
Climate Zone: Tropical
Site Area : 2 hectares
Building Gross Area : 4,000 m2
Height : 47.50 metres
Number of Rooms : 41 rooms
(Yoong, 2008, p. 67)
Design Philosophy
The sustainable green building for today and the
future.
Certification
Pusat Tenaga Malaysia (Malaysia Energy Centre) is
previously known as ZEO (Zero Energy Office)
Building - officially Malaysia’s first Green Building
Index (GBI) Certified Building. Currently, it is known
as GEO (Green Energy Office) Building. It is also
Malaysia’s first completed green-rated office
building. (Pusat Tenaga Malaysia, 2008)
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BUILDING GREEN DESIGN STRATEGIES
The building is lit primarily by daylight, supplemented by electric lighting only during very dark and
overcast periods. Extensive active energy efficiency measures are implemented in the building in
order to reduce the need for electricity to an absolute minimum, without compromising the request
for comfortable temperature and humidity and adequate lighting. These measures include among
others high efficiency pumps and fans, and use of energy efficient office equipment.
The GEO with its many innovative EE features is calculated to consume very little fossil fuels with a
designed building energy index ( BEI) of 65kWh/m2 year. Compared with others conventional office
building of 250-300 kWh/m2 year, GEO has proven its strategies. (Pusat Tenaga Malaysia, 2008)
The use of Renewable Energy ( RE) is also the significant feature of itself. The building incorporates
BiPV system which is architecturally and aesthetically integrated into building design.
GREEN DESIGN FEATURES: (Pusat Tenaga Malaysia, 2008)
- Daylighting (Basic Building Design) :Building uses diffused daylight for 100% natural daylighting.To
take advantage of this diffused daylight, building is strategically positioned to ensure that most of its
windows face north and south, in order to avoid direct sunlight and extensive heat gain.
- Cooling and Energy Efficient Ventilation System: This system is made up of 50% radiant cooling
and 50% air cooling (convection) system. The radiant cooling is achieved by the use of floor slab
cooling where cold water polyethylene crosslink piping are embedded into the floors.
- River Roof :Acts as the cooling tower or heat sink system for the building. It discharges heat into
the ambient temperature ultilising the cool night sky radiation, 10-20 degree Celcius.
-Building Integrated Photovoltaic System ( BIPW) : This system provides 50% of the electricity the
building needs. The solar system provide up to 120,000 kWh/year of energy.
-Rain Water Harvesting :The rain water is harvested to help conserve water in the building and
reducing the use of treated water from utility. It used for cooling system condenser side, watering
the landscaping and for general cleaning purposes.
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AIR QUALITY
The perfect quality of air was achieved via the process of dehumidification. A single air handling unit
(AHU) is used for circulating the cool fresh air within the building and also for dehumidification
purposes. Dehumidification of air quality in buildings consumes a great amount of electricity; hence
a green tower is introduced.
The green tower, is a modular cooling tower that uses absolutely no electricity to power the fan. It
instead uses the water flow and pressure, that is already present in the processes. The tower runs at
a greater efficiency, as it replaces incoming humid fresh air with cooler air.
GREEN COOLING TOWER
MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO LOW ENERGY CONSUMPTION
An energy efficient building envelope with energy efficient double glazing and well insulated
walls and roofs.
Use of daylight as the only source of lighting during daytime.
Use of energy efficient office equipment
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ORTHOGRAPHIC DRAWING
SITE PLAN (Derived from Google Map)
Location : Section 9, Bandar Baru Bangi, Bangi, Selangor
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CLIMATE DATA
TEMPERATURE
Over the course of a year, the maximum daily temperature typically varies from 31 D.C. to 32 D.C.
whereas the minimum daily temperature typically varies from 24 D.C. to 24.5 D.C.
RELATIVE HUMIDITY
The relative humidity typically ranges from 77% to 90% over the course of the year.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Annual (2013) Temperature for Sepang, Malaysia
Average Maximum Temperature (Degree Celsius)
Average Minimum Temperature (Degree Celsius)
72
74
76
78
80
82
84
86
88
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Annual (2013) Relative Humidity for Sepang, Malaysia
Average Relative Humidity (%)
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ANALYSIS
A RH of 100% denotes a foggy, wet, and saturated atmosphere. Levels below 40% RH suggest
dryness while levels above 80% RH suggest high presence of moisture. Between 40% and 80% RH, it
is a comfortable environment if the temperature is also comfortable. According to the chart above,
Sepang’s climate is rather humid as RH levels are mainly above 80% RH.
PSYCHROMETRIC CHART (Derived from Ecotech 2011 software)
This Psychrometric chart shows that Malaysia's dry bulb temperature is around 10-35 °C ,
which included the comfort zone . Moreover , absolute humidity (AH) is laid between 3-13
(g/m3), which included the comfort zone as well .
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WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION (Derived from Ecotech 2011 software)
The wind speed and direction can be analysed using the diagram below.
Basically, winds come from all direction and the stronger winds are moving in from the
South-West direction , while winds blow higher frequency from South-East.
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SUNPATH & LIGHTING (Derived from Ecotech 2011 software)
SHADOW RANGE DIAGRAM
0800-1200
1200-1700
