A lesson in low energy design on the utilization of electricity - a case study on the faculty of Design and Architecture building in University Putra Malaysia

Abstract

Several researchers have investigated the energy consumption of office buildings in Malaysia. In this study, energy consumption of low energy buildings, strategies, an overview of electricity usage in buildings, and performance evaluation of green buildings in Malaysia, will be conducted. The Faculty of Design and Architecture (FRSB), University Putra Malaysia (UPM) was selected as a case study for this research. The results of this study will become a reference for UPM, as the owner of the FRSB building, to become a pioneer of energy efficiency programs. These results will be compared with the Malaysian Code of Practice Standard for Energy Efficiency and Use of Renewable Energy for Non-Residential Building (MS 1525:2007); in order to identify compliance with that standard. This study will also identify the factors that contribute towards energy consumption for the FRSB building and provide recommendations for minimizing energy usage for education buildings; particularly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and create awareness for building designers and occupants alike. The findings will show that the FRSB building complied with MS 1525:2007, in terms of Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV) and overall energy usage. The results presented in this study will confirm that this building’s electricity usage comes mostly from air conditioning and lighting systems. This study will provide suggestions for using a Building Management System (BMS) to control overall energy usage and for the installation of photovoltaic panels; which may help to provide energy by itself. The recommendations provided will attempt to overcome the problems caused by occupant’s behaviour towards energy use.