Building Science 1: Project 1 G- Tower

Building Science 1(ARC2413) | Case Study :
Identifying Innovative Passive Design
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[G TOWER]
a sustainable tower
Architect:
BEP Akitek Sdn Bhd
The Architectural Network
Project:
GTower
Location:
199 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah
Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
Client:
Goldis Tower Sdn Bhd
PropertyType:
Office & Hotel
Date Completed:
June 2006

ContentPage
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No. Topic Pages
1 Introduction 3 - 5
2 Concept & Ideas 6
3 Sustainable Design 7 - 14
4 Temperature & Climate Data 15 - 17
5 Wind Direction Analysis 18 - 19
6 Sun Path Analysis 20 - 21
7 Passive Design – Building Orientation 22 - 26
8 Passive Design – Double Glazing Glass 27 - 29
9 Conclusion 30
10 Reference 31

Introduction
The G Tower, is a new working concept incorporating an office space, a members-only
private club and a hotel called aptly, The G City Club Hotel, is the first fully certified green
building. Given the Green Mark Gold Rating by standards of the Singapore’s Building and
Construction Authority(BCA).
Being strategically located at the crossroads of Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Ampang in Kuala
Lumpur, this 30-storey building with a total land area of 2000m² encompasses a 180-room
5 star hotel, 112 CEO duplex office suites and a club was designed by BEP Akitek under
Goldis Tower and was completed in June 2009.
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Diagram 1.1 : G Tower Site Plan

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Diagram 1.2 : Lobby Green Feature Wall Diagram 1.3 : Entrance to Lower Ground

Concept&Ideas
G Tower is Malaysia’s first green and smart building which implemented the idea of
environment sustainability, RETHINK, REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE.
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Concepts Application
Rethink Not restricted in the building only. Site orientation is considered
to reduce usage of energy.
Sustainable green building technologies and systems are added.
Reduce Reduce energy consumption:
-Usage of double glazed low-emission glass. (Allow maximum
light, minimum heat transmission)
Chilled water centralised air-conditioning chillers are used.
Low energy LED lighting which will reduce energy consumption
by 80-90%
Cleaning agents that are eco-friendly are used in the hotel.
Eco-friendly infinity pool on the rooftop is conditioned by salt
instead of chlorine. The pool is also heated by the heat waste
from the air-con units.
Reuse Harvest of rainwater in the water catchment areas to provide
enough water for the green roof and the vertical green walls.
Crawling plants on the façade wall and in the interior walls
helps purified air in a natural way.
Heat waste from air-con is also reuse for heating the water in
bathrooms.
Recycle The staffs in the hotel learned to separate recyclable waste.
The furnishing of the interior of hotel are made of recycled
materials.
Even the paint that is used is made of organic compound.
Table 1.1 : G Tower Concept

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SustainableDesign
The building has been certified by the Singapore Government’s Building and Construction
Authority with the GREEN MARK GOLD certification which acknowledges that G Tower has
incorporated the following Green Building Technologies (GBTs) to improve:
 Energy efficiency
 Water efficiency
 Indoor environmental quality and environmental management
 Green planting throughout the building to improve air quality
 Energy efficient chilled water air-con centralized air conditioning
 Low e-glass for lower heat transmission
 Environmentally- friendly materials used throughout the building
Diagram 2.1 : Sustainability Process

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Energy Efficiency
To increase the overall energy efficiency, the air conditioning which consumes the largest
amount of energy has been replaced to operate at low system efficiency.
Motion and photo sensors have also been added which promote a reduction in energy
consumption from lighting in various facilities when not in use.
The use of greenery in landscaping, green roof can assist in alleviating urban heat islands
through shading and evaporative cooling.
Diagram 3.1 : Motion Sensors Process
Diagram 3.2 : G Tower Green Roof

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Water Efficiency
As an initiative to reduce water consumption, water efficient fittings were installed so that
facility staff can monitor daily water usage and detect any leakage occurring in the building.
Rain water harvesting system has also been implemented for irrigating the landscape and
vertical greening areas.
Piping of irrigation system runs along side the green walls and plantation in the building.
G-TOWER
USAGE
Diagram 3.3 : Rainwater Harvesting Process
Diagram 3.4 : Vertical Greenery Irrigation Diagram 3.5 : Plantation Irrigation

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Project Management
An estimate of more than 30% of construction materials such as carpets, landscape draining
cells, external wood decking, and kitchen cabinets are of recycled contents as an
environmentally friendly approach.
Carpet with recycled contents
Landscape draining cells
External wood decking
Kitchen cabinets with recycled content

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The Bridge Bar is the crucial part of the building’s commitment to being green. The management
of G Tower wanted to show that even a carefree drinking joint could also echo green themes by
using materials with recycled contents to decorate the interior and atmosphere of the bar.
1. Wine bottles that are built-in into the bar as
decoration.
2. Abundantly use of cengal wood.
3. Refurbished furniture. 4. Usage of eco woods fabricated with rice
husk for outdoor decking.
5. Recyclable carpets. 6. LED lights.

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Provisions for Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Carbon Dioxide (CO²) monitoring systems which
BMS to circulate air inside the building to provide better indoor air quality. The use of low
VOC paint helps prevents from getting exposed to chemical particles.
Indoor Environment Quality Implementation:
1. Providing Carbon Monoxide monitoring systems at basement car parks.
• To ensure toxic fumes are removed regularly
2. Carbon Dioxide sensors are available at all AHUs
3. Fluorescent luminaries’ c/w high frequency ballast
4. Use of VOC paint and wallpaper
5. Provision for Refrigerant leak detection system
Indoor Environmental Quality & Protection

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The Bridge Bar
The Element Gym
 An eco-friendly gym which incorporate the principles of green-living in its fitness regime.
Ensconced in the 28th Floor of G Tower Building the
feeling of a private home pervades the stylishly
décor of a Bridge Bar. The outlet showcases and
profile something as frivolous as a drinking outlet
could echo a commitment to ‘going green’ both in
theme and décor.
 Heated infinity pool with salted water
 Slat chlorinators are used in this swimming pool
to minimize the usage of chemicals
 Thus, this will improve the water quality and
good environmental impact
Eco- Friendly Infinity Pool
Sustainable Design Features

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DOUBLE GLAZING TO REDUCE
HEAT TRANSFER
SustainableDesignSystem

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Malaysia is located in the equatorial region and has a tropical rainforest climate which is
causes it to remain hot and humid throughout the year. It experiences two types of climates
which are rainy season (mid- November to March) and dry season (May to September).
However, the temperature in Malaysia varies a little from season to season since it is close to
the equator.
The average annual temperature of Malaysia ranges between 24°C to 33°C. During the rainy
season, the average rainfall throughout the year is 217.5mm and November is the highest
rainfall month. The humidity in Malaysia is very high. The relative humidity varies from a low
80% in January to a high of 85% in October. For the average daily sunshine hours in Malaysia,
the daily sunshine hours is about eight hours in the dry season and range from six to seven
hours throughout the rainy season.
Temperature&ClimateData

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0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average High Temperature
(°C)
Average Low Temperature
(°C)
Average Temperature (°C) - Kuala Lumpur
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
Average Humidity (%)
Average Humidity (%) - Kuala Lumpur

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0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Average Daily Sunshine
Hours
Average Daily Sunshine Hours - Kuala Lumpur
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Average Rainfall (mm)
Average Rain Days
Average Rainfall (mm) - Kuala Lumpur

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WindDirectionAnalysis
NortheastMonsoon(November–March)

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SouthwestMonsoon(May–September)

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SunPathAnalysis
Diagram 4.1 : 9am
Diagram 4.2 12pm

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Diagram 4.3 : 4pm
Diagram 4.4 : 6pm

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PassiveDesign
The orientation of the building is important to maintain the buildings indoor temperature
within the thermal comfort range. According to ASHRAE Standard, the thermal comfort range
Is set at around 24 to 26 Degree Celsius. In order to achieve thermal comfort, there are
several criteria that should be noted.
The orientation of building plays important role in manipulating indoor temperature. The
front façade of G Tower is defined by the site and main road access. According to the map
above, the main entrance of G-Tower is supposed to face to south-east direction. However,
the building orientation has been adjusted to east of northeast by adding a path to allow the
car access.
Diagram 5.1 : Building Orientation on
Site
N

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The front façade of G Tower is subtracted as shown in diagram below to minimize the
total amount of morning sunlight penetrate into the building. While simultaneously it
also provides shadings to the users and achieve thermal comfort.
The front façade has replaced with
vertical garden. Vertical garden has similar
function as green roof. It undergoes
photosynthesis, which required sunlight,
and releases oxygen to cooler the
surrounding temperature. Hence, the
heat energy does not transfer into the
interior spaces of G Tower.
Diagram 5.3 : Vertical Greenery on Front Facade
Diagram 5.2 : Geometry Subtraction

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The front façade of G Tower has a
reduced surface area compare to other
elevations. As the higher the surface
area of an elevation, the more sunlight
is allow to penetrate into the building,
causing indoor temperature to rise. As
the G Tower is located in the city, only
limited area can be used for plantation
as sun shading and to reduce the
temperature. Hence, the subtracted
design of the façade.
Diagram 5.5 : Front View of
Facade
Diagram 5.4 : Sun Ray on North-East
Facade

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Sunlightradiation ismostreceivedon NorthEastFaçadefrom10am
to1pm
Differentialinpressureofcloudscausesclearskiesbylateevening
after2pmonwards
According to the ecotect diagram, the most sun radiation received is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. In
order to avoid the raise of temperature in the building, several design moderation were taken
to reduce the amount of sun radiation being received.

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 To ensure the glass would not result in too much heat transfer, the building was oriented so
the greater expanses of glass are to the north and south, and are less affected by solar
radiation than the east and west elevations.
 The east facade, which receives the most direct sunlight, has a reduced of glass surface area,
but the stepped design of the building ensures indirect sunlight can still penetrate the
interior.
 In addition, the entire building is double glazed.
 The use of energy-efficient lighting is a key factor which is related to the building’s
orientation.
 The building is equipped with motion sensors, so lighting is only used where needed. So,
there are photo sensors that take into account the amount of natural light coming into the
space
 The lighting levels are automatically adjusted due to the natural sunlight received to ensure
no energy is wasted.
 Hence, this building was designed to provide estimated annual energy savings of 5.2 million
kilowatts.
More openings at North and South
direction
Glass reduced at the East and West
direction
OrientationSummary

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Heat flow occurs when there is a difference in temperature between the interior and exterior of
G Tower. The greater the difference between the outside and inside temperature, the greater
the heat flow, especially through windows using ordinary single glazing. In Malaysia, which
usually has a hot weather needs to consider glazing technologies that dramatically improve the
insulation performance of the window and improve its energy efficiency performance. Low E
glass and Insulated Glazing referred to double glazing that can be used individually or combined
to provide outstanding insulation performance.
Source: http://www.trulyconservatoryrepairs.com/conservatory-upgrades/roof-frame-glass/
In G Tower, double glazed glass is where it assists in keeping air conditioned spaces cooler for
longer time, cutting down on energy bills and improving comfort.
Double glazed glass consists of two panes of glass with a gap in the middle which enable
sunlight to be reflected back to the surroundings. The two pieces of glass and an insulated
frame are sealed together as one unit. The gap in the middle is usually a vacuum and sealed
tight.
Diagram 6.1 : Double Glazing Cross-Section
Insulated Glazing
(reduce heat transfer)
Cool Air
(long wave radiation
reflected the cold air back
into the interior)

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The main facades of the G Tower consist of glass, there is a large area of the exterior will be
shined with direct sunlight. The cons to this is that glazed façade allows solar radiation to go
through the glass facades into the building and then trap the heat energy indoor causing the
interior to be heated up.
G Tower uses low-e glasses for the glass facades because the solar rays passes through the
glasses as short wave (radiation) and goes through the glass to be absorbed by the interior of
the building. Most of the longer wave heat energy is reflected back into the surrounding by the
low-e glass filtering out most of the heat wave and reduce the increased of heat indoors.
The combination of both of low-e glass and insulated glazing can ensure a better heat insulation
for the building improving the thermal comfort of G Tower. The glass can reduce heat loss up to
50% of the heat radiation that passes through the double glazed glass. The double layers of glass
helps to reduce noises from the external too. This type of glass increases security and protection
for building because there are double layers which means double protection.
Nowadays a certain amount of Argon gas, which is a naturally occurring inert gas, is inserted
between the panes of glass. Argon gas has a density higher than the surrounding air and this
reduce heat energy to be transmitted into the interior spaces. The gas acts as a barrier
reducing heat loss as well as heat absorption in the building.
Diagram 6.2 : Double Glazing Process

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Advantages of Energy Efficient Glass
 Energy Saving ,decreasing air-conditioning cost
Improve the energy efficiency of G Tower, reduce monthly bills and decrease the size of carbon
footprint while G Tower can reduce the usage of air conditioners.
 Interior Comfort
Low-e glass is essential for rooms or buildings with a high proportion of windows or glass doors,
such as the office block of G-Tower which require lots of natural lighting especially for the office
block. The use of low-e glazing helps to retain the interior temperature which is much lower
than the exterior, allowing users to comfortably use the space daily.
 Sound Reduction
Double glazing reduces sound transmission and can help reduce unwanted noise. 75% ambient
noise reduction compared to single pane windows. This is important for G Tower is an office-
hotel which requires a quiet space for workers and customers.
 Draught-proof
Draught-proofing is one of the most cost effective and least intrusive ways of improving the
comfort of occupants and reducing energy used for cooling with little or no change to a
building’s appearance. It has the added benefit of helping to reduce noise and keeping out dust.
It can also reduce air leakage in windows by between 33% and 50% significantly reducing the
energy requirement needed for cooling the room. This will ensure the interior space of G Tower
will maintain at the same temperature.
 60% better heat insulation compared to single pane windows
G-Tower used the most energy-efficient glass for double glazing which is the low emissivity glass.
It often has an unnoticeable coating of metal oxide, normally on one of the internal panes next
to the gap. This lets in light and heat but cuts the amount of heat that can get out. There is gas
between the gaps for heat insulation. The whole window is assessed on its efficiency at retaining
heat.

Conclusion
Being the first green building to receive Gold class on the BCA Green Mark in Malaysia,
the G Tower certainly deserves its title and upholds it as well with its multiple green
features aiming towards a more eco friendly building in the center of the concrete jungle.
As a green buildings looks to ways for innovatively reduce the carbon footprint and
minimize the impact on the planet. G Tower was designed for environmental efficiency.
With advance motion sensor, energy efficient, water usage monitoring system, and a
rainwater harvesting technology, the G Tower stands as a highly intelligent yet eco-
friendly building that simultaneously provides the comfort and security that is demanded
from an A++ hotel.
The G Tower was designed and position purposely with site specific specifications. The
front façade being composed mostly of double glazed glass to maintain the cool
temperature and keeping the heat out of the interior while still allowing sunlight to
brighten the interior.
The building has also been orientated with its front façade facing east by north-east.
Fitted with vertical greenery and a subtracted surface area elevation, the G Tower aims to
minimize the sun radiation received in the early morning since its north and south
surfaces are less affected by the solar radiation has maintained its full elevation.
The G Tower is truly outstanding example of a modern day sustainable building that has
its focus set on the five essential pillars of green construction : energy, efficiency, water
efficiency, environmental protection, indoor environmental quality and innovation in
green features.
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Reference
 http://www.goldis.com/media/doc/Architecture%20Malaysia%20G%20Tower%20a%20S
ustainable%20Tower.pdf
 http://gtowerhotel.com/green.php?content=green
 http://www.metroglasstech.co.nz/products/double-glazing/thermal-insulation.aspx
 http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/3701/5/2._chap_1_-_6.pdf
 http://www.climatechangeandyourhome.org.uk/live/content_pdfs/890.pdf
 http://gtower.com.my/pdf/archieve/Trends%20Magazine.pdf
 http://www.rebeccasaw.com/gtower-hotel-kl-its-green-its-a-grade-a-office-building-its-
has-msc-status/
 http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aLVkCMVXMKI/UILP9bqY8BI/AAAAAAAABAU/2-
vVckHpCwQ/s1600/2.JPG
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/38887489@N07/5104545212/

Building Science 1: Project 1 G- Tower

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