JKR’S APPROACH TOWARDS ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN BUILDINGS

Ir Hjh Azura Mahayudin, & Ir Gopal Narian Kutty,Jurutera Elektrik Penguasa, Jurutera Mekanikal Kanan,Unit Inspektorat & Pengurusan Tenaga, Unit Bangunan Am 1,Cawangan Kejuruteraan Elektrik, Cawangan Kejuruteraan Mekanikal,IP JKR Malaysia. IP JKR Malaysia.

Abstract::

YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah bin Hj Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia, in his Budget Speech for 2006 said

“The Government will take the lead in energy conservation. I strongly believe that there is much scope for us to save energy. All Government agencies will be required to target a 10% savings in energy consumption for 2006. We are being wasteful if we keep our offices air-conditioned at excessively low temperatures and leave the lights on when no one is at work.”

Surely all of us in JKR can do better than switching lights off during lunch time. We should be accepting our Prime Minister’s challenge by answering his call professionally.

Thus this paper attempts to disseminate knowledge on Energy Efficiency and energy saving measures. The paper reminds and highlights the importance of JKR embracing an Integrated Design Approach to create an energy efficient building. The interest of our clients can be protected by ensuring we have designed a sustainable building right from the beginning and then later upon handing over, maintaining good house keeping by both JKR and our Clients to keep energy consumption at an optimum efficiency.

Keywords:energy efficiencyenergy efficient buildingintegrated design approachsustainable building

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1.0 BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION

Presently activities pertaining to energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE)

in the country are coordinated by Suruhanjaya Tenaga (ST) and Pusat Tenaga

Malaysia under the custodian of Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications. In

1999, ST assisted by the Danish International Development Assistance (DANIDA)

embarked on a project entitled Capacity Building in the Energy Commission and

Related Key Institutions on EE and Demand Side Management. ST and DANIDA

rightly identified and recognized that JKR has a pivotal role for the government to

succeed in all its endeavours pertaining to EE and sustainability in not only

government buildings but also private sector commercial buildings which would

emanate from initial efforts by JKR. Having been recognized, so what have we in

JKR done? This paper attempts to guide us to justify the recognition by and

expectations of the government and measures that should be taken by us for JKR to

professionally accept the challenge by our Prime Minister in his Budget 2006

speech. It is also an awareness drive since some of us are not aware that there are

existing policies, standards and guidelines that allow us to immediately participate

towards this objective. Amongst those that are already in place are the Five-Fuel

Strategy of the National Fuel Policy (whence in June 1999, EE and RE were

included as the 5th fuel), the Malaysian Standard MS 1525:2001 and the

amendments by the EPU in it’s Standards and Cost Committee Year 2005 1st

Edition Guidelines (refer to extracts from this guideline as attached).

Before we proceed further, let’s define EE in the JKR context. EE means the efficient

utilization of energy during the operational lifespan of a building where the comfort of

its occupants is not compromised nor sacrificed. Initially EE can be achieved by

wisely taking various energy saving measures during the design stage of the

building. In projects designed by JKR, energy in buildings is associated mainly with

electricity. Often this is mistakenly taken to imply that EE is the sole responsibility of

electrical engineers. In reality, anything and everything that leads to the eventual

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end-use of electricity is related to EE in buildings. So, does this now mean that EE is

the responsibility of the mechanical engineers since it is they who usually have the

final say on the enormous guzzler of electricity ie the air-conditioning systems?

2.0 INTEGRATED DESIGN APPROACH

Integrated building design is a process of design in which multiple disciplines and

seemingly unrelated aspects of design are integrated in a manner that permits

synergistic benefits to be realized. The goal is to achieve high performance and

multiple benefits at a lower cost than the total for all the components combined. This

process often includes integrating green design strategies into conventional design

criteria for building form, function, performance, and cost.

The key to a successful integrated building design is the participation of people from

different specialties of design: general architecture, HVAC, lighting and electrical,

interior design, and landscape design. By working together at key points in the

design process, these participants can often identify highly attractive and creative

solutions to design needs that would otherwise not be found. In an integrated design

approach, the mechanical and electrical designers will calculate the energy use and

calculate the cost (not only the capital cost but more importantly the operational

cost) very early in the design, informing other designers of the energy-use

implications of the architect’s initial proposal of building orientation, configuration,

fenestration, etc.

Finding the right building design recipes through an integrated design process can

be challenging. At first, design teams often have to make incremental changes that

are effective and result in high-performance buildings. Continuing to explore design

integration opportunities can sometimes yield incredible results, in which the design

team breaks through the cost barrier. Experience of other parties have shown that

sometimes the most effective solutions also have the lowest construction costs.

Consider integrated building design strategies for all aspects of improving EE,

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planning a sustainable site, safeguarding water, creating healthy indoor

environments, and using environmentally preferable materials. Major design issues

should be considered by all members of the design team (that’s all of us in JKR) —

the integrated building concept to achieve EE in JKR constructed buildings can be

carried out by applying both passive and active design strategies.

3.0PASSIVE DESIGN STRATEGY

Passive design has been practiced throughout the world and has been shown to

produce buildings with low energy costs, reduced maintenance, and superior

comfort. A basic understanding of these issues by JKR architects can have a

significant effect on the energy performance of a building. The choices of these

passive elements contribute crucially to minimize the heat gained from the

environment hence directly reducing the cooling load demanded. As a design

approach, passive design can take many forms. It can be integrated to greater or

lesser degrees in a building. It is not the intention of this paper to exhaustively list

the various passive strategies, however amongst them are the following:

3.1 Site Planning and Building Orientation

In Malaysia, generally the best orientation for buildings is with the long

directional axis of buildings facing North-South and minimizing solar exposure

and heat gained from the East-West orientation. On narrow sites, this may not

be possible thus innovative designs may be necessary especially with respect

to shading devices on the eastern and western façade.

3.2 Building Envelope and Façade Design

It is a fact that the envelope of the building acts as a barrier to block out heat

gain into buildings via conduction gain and solar radiation gain. The solar heat

gain constitutes a substantial portion of cooling load in an air-conditioned

buildings whilst in non air-conditioned buildings, the heat gain causes thermal

discomfort. Therefore minimizing these gains are of utmost importance. The

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design concept known as the Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV) for air-

conditioned buildings has to be adopted aiming to achieve an envelope that

cuts down external heat gain hence reducing the cooling load of the air-

conditioning system. The correct choice of materials for facades, glazing and

wall and roof materials should be carefully selected. The exterior wall and

cladding system should ultimately be designed such that the view and control

of daylight too is integrated as a solution.

3.3 Day Lighting

Use natural day lighting as a major consideration in the design of the building.

A good system should begin at the preliminary design stage and must study

the following elements in relation to sunlight:-

The orientation and space organization

Shape and size of glazing through which daylight will pass

Internal ceiling wall, partition, and floor surface properties

Minimising the colour contrast between windows and internal adjoining

walls and ceilings

Protection from solar gains or glare by external shading devices

Optical, solar and thermal properties of windows.

3.4 Natural Air Ventilation

This is the use of natural forces of wind to provide sufficient fresh air and air

change to enclosed spaces. Natural air ventilation relies on the movement of

air through space to equalize pressure without using active temperature

controllers or mechanical means. The two methods to achieve this are:-

The wind driven cross ventilation

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The buoyancy driven stack ventilation

3.5 Landscaping

Landscaping done strategically meets two objectives. The obvious is that it is

aesthetically pleasing. The subtle objective being that it influences heat gain

through shading from the sun and the creation of cooler microclimate around

the building where, for example, it assist the cooling outcomes of passive

design by drawing the prevailing breezes over gardens and ponds areas

thereby pre-cooling the air before it entered the building.

4.0ACTIVE DESIGN STRATEGY

As mentioned earlier, an optimum choice of passive elements for the building

reduces the amount of cooling required. Now in order to reduce the overall electrical

demand by the active elements the most appropriate strategies should be

considered by the M& E designers. The most common of these active design

strategies are as follows:

4.1 Air-Conditioning System and Mechanical Ventilation (ACMV)

ACMV accounts for 60% to 70% of the energy consumed in a typical non-

residential building. This represents an opportunity for energy savings by the

air-conditioning designers to use proven technologies and design concepts.

The best ACMV system design shall consider indoor air quality, energy

consumption, and environmental benefit. ACMV systems have a significant

effect on the health, comfort, and productivity of occupants which can be

improved by better mechanical and ventilation systems. In existing buildings,

envelope upgrades are often necessary to maximize comfort and energy

efficiency, such as reducing envelope leakage.

Optimizing the design and benefits requires that the mechanical system

designer and the architect address these issues early in the schematic design

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phase and continually revise subsequent decisions throughout the remaining

design process. Some of these effective and energy efficient system include:

Efficient multi zoning air distribution with Variable Air Volume (VAV) and

Variable Speed Drives (VSD) to ensure the air-conditioned areas are all

within the specified comfort zones and to control cooling comfort where

you want it, when you want it.

Using the motion sensors and occupancy sensors to control the

temperature in unoccupied rooms.

Using effective air infiltration control to prevent the egress of external

untreated air.

Using of High Efficiency Motor (HEM) for bigger horse power motor with

longer running hours.

Using of Energy Recovery Wheel to recover energy from exhaust air

Better ductworks and pipes insulation to prevent heat loss through

condensation.

Using of high accuracy thermostats for accurate temperature control.

4.2 Electric Lighting Design Coordinated With Day Lighting

For obvious reasons the electrical designers should coordinate the electrical

lighting system with the day lighting design proposed by the architect. It is

critical for the success of the system. The layout and circuiting of the lighting

should correspond to the daylight aperture. In a typical side lighting design

with windows along one wall it is best to place the luminaires in rows parallel

to the window wall and circuited so that the row nearest the windows will be

the first to dim or switch off followed by successive rows.

A building designed for day lighting but without an integrated electric lighting

system will be a net energy loser because of the increased thermal loads.

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Only when the electric lighting load is reduced will there be more than

offsetting savings in electrical and cooling loads. Thus it is obvious that lamps

and fittings used should be of the efficient types. The benefits from day

lighting are maximized when both occupancy and lighting sensors are used to

control the electric lighting system integrated into the building energy

management system.

4.3 Energy Efficient Office Equipment and Plug Loads

Except in Design & Build contracts, the purchase of office equipments and

other plug loads are not normally included under the JKR 203 contracts.

However we should be proactive in advising our clients that they should only

purchase energy efficient office equipments in line with our integrated design

approach. Office equipment that is left on overnight or for long periods during

the day when it is not in use accounts for a large share of office equipment

electricity use. Fax machines, typically on for 24 hours per day, are active for

only about one hour. Computers and monitors are used more intensively than

most other office equipment, but on average are active barely half of the time

during the day. Amazingly, about a quarter of this equipment is left on in

offices at night. Inefficient office equipment could be detrimental to the

success of the overall EE of the building as in large numbers the heat emitted

could lead to the overworking of cooling equipment.

Grouping similar functions allows localization of special requirements for

particular tasks and results in lower first cost and lower operating costs.

Equipment that has high heat production should be grouped together. For

example, computer centers or lab areas should have separate, dedicated

ACMV equipment.

Equipment that produces heat should have controls to ensure that such

equipment is turned off when not needed. For example, it is important to

enable power saving features for computer equipment.

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JKR is often represented in most procurement committees and central

contract committees under the Central Agencies. We should play a major role

to curtail such unnecessary energy consumption. In our advisory roles we

could recommend that new “power-managed” office equipment that has been

developed be specified as standard equipment in proposed central contracts.

Power-managed products save energy when the equipment is inactive, but

not “off,” by entering a low-power or “sleep” mode. As a result, electricity use

can be cut by 40 to 60%. The savings from power management are

particularly large for products that use a lot of energy, such as computer

monitors and most copiers, laser printers, and fax machines that contain

electric heating elements

4.4 Comprehensive Energy Management Systems (EMS)

In order to gauge the performance of the building it is necessary to include a

comprehensive energy management system that enable us to systematically

monitor the energy consumption. Electrical energy meters should be installed

at strategic load centres to identify consumption by functional use, be they

lighting, air –conditioning or plug loads.

It includes measuring temperatures and flow rates from all ACMV devices and

calibrating all sensors to a known standard. The EMS allows us to review the

sequence of operations to verify that the controls are providing the correct

interaction between equipment.

EMS ensures that the building operates as efficiently as possible while

meeting the occupants' comfort and functional needs not only during testing

and commissioning but throughout the life of the building.

EMS is recommended for buildings with more than 4000 sq metres of air-

conditioned space.

5.0 COMMISSIONING

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Building commissioning is critical for ensuring that the design developed through the

whole-building design process is successfully constructed and operated. It is a

systematic process of ensuring that a building performs in accordance with the

design intent, contract documents, and the owner's operational needs. In JKR

projects, the commissioning process is automatically included as part of the typical

construction process. It has often been taken to mean the commissioning of M & E

systems. Undoubtedly, in energy-efficient buildings the commissioning of the active

elements are of utmost importance because equipment is less likely to be oversized

and must therefore run as intended to maintain comfort but the commissioning of the

energy efficient building should include evaluating the passive building elements to

ensure that shade management devices are in place, glazing was installed as

specified, air-leakage standards have been met—these are the static elements of

the building. It is important that the products that were specified for the building meet

the manufacturer's claims (and are appropriate for the project). Thus it may be

necessary to include a new SPK procedure in the commissioning portion of our

documentation.

6.0 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

The operation and maintenance of the building will impact energy use and occupant

comfort. It is unfortunate that JKR is now not involved directly anymore in the

operation and maintenance of most government facilities. As much care should be

paid to the operation of the building as was paid to the building planning, design, and

building component choices. As such JKR should play an advisory role. It is

suggested that JKR prepare a proposal with regard to matters pertaining to energy

use as part SPK documentation during the handing over.

For example, due to inadequate housekeeping, an enormous waste of energy

occurs when cooled air escapes from supply ducts or when hot attic air leaks into

return ducts. Recent studies indicate that 10% to 30% of the conditioned air in an

average central air conditioning system escapes from the ducts. Effective

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housekeeping procedures during operation and maintenance provide opportunities

for more energy savings. Facilities staff can be trained to cut energy use and

performance needs to be measured consistently.

In the event that the proposed setting up of the Cawangan Penyenggaraan

materializes, JKR can embark to properly operate and maintain and keep the house

in efficient order. We can also then carry out energy audits on our buildings to further

improve on energy savings. We should also benchmark these buildings. The energy

management cycle of improvement will be turned continuously enabling much

improved performances in our future projects.

7.0 CONCLUSION

It cannot be overly emphasized that EE in JKR designed and constructed buildings

are immediately doable and achievable. All parties in JKR should immediately

incorporate the passive and active elements and embrace the integrated design

approach. In the event that JKR is tasked with the maintenance of buildings we can

continue the energy management during its operational lifespan. The policies and

guidelines are already in place. Immediately needed is the will and the want, the co-

operation and teamwork, and we shall achieve not only the targeted 10% savings in

energy consumptions in government buildings but we would have added value into

our products. We shall be one step closer to being a centre of excellence.

~~Design the building as an energy system

and

integrate energy systems into the building~~

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GARISPANDUAN DAN PERATURAN BAGI PERANCANGAN BANGUNAN OLEH JAWATANKUASA KECIL PIAWAIAN DAN KOS BAGI JPPN JABATAN PERDANA MENTERI, Edisi Pertama Tahun 2005.

Ekstrak yang berkaitan…

a. Rujuk muka surat 2

Perkara 1, 1.1c berkaitan tujuan garis panduan disediakan iaitu untuk memberi penjelasan

tentang kriteria dan piawaian umum dalam mereka bentuk bangunan Kerajaan supaya ianya

dirancang dan dilaksana dengan penggunaan kos yang berkesan, di samping memenuhi

keperluan-keperluan fungsinya – (cost effective and functional).

b. Rujuk muka surat 4

Perkara 4.1 berkaitan pematuhan undang-undang iaitu Semua agensi pelaksana /

Kementerian / Jabatan / Badan Berkanun hendaklah memastikan reka bentuk bangunan

mematuhi kehendak Akta-akta, Undang-undang Kecil, Pekeliling-pekeliling, Piawaian-

piawaian, Kod-kod Amalan dan dasar Kerajaan yang berkaitan yang sedang berkuatkuasa.

c. Rujuk muka surat 81

Perkara 2.3 berkaitan penggunaan bahan binaan dan kemasan iaitu

Perkara 2.3d iaitu Penggunaan jadual ini hendaklah dibuat secara bijaksana dan konsep

mereka bentuk mengikut peruntukan hendaklah diambil kira semasa memilih jenis bahan

dan kemasan bangunan, supaya faedah yang optimum diperolehi dari kos yang

dibelanjakan.

Perkara 2.3e iaitu Jadual ini akan sentiasa dikemaskini mengikut keadaan masa, ekonomi

negara, turun naik harga bahan binaan, maklum balas pengguna dan juga

perkembangan terknologi binaan di negara ini

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Perkara 2.3g iaitu Keputusan JKPK ke atas penggunaan jenis-jenis kemasan akan dibuat

apabila cadangan dari agensi pelanggan dikemukakan untuk kelulusan. Kelulusan ini

adalah muktamad.

d. Rujuk muka surat 140 -144

Bab 3.berkaitan garis panduan kerja-kerja mekanikal dan elektrik iaitu :

Perkara 3.1a …dengan tujuan untuk menjimatkan perbelanjaan awam tanpa menjejaskan

keselamatan dan keberkesanan projek

Perkara 3.1b …perancangan yang baik di peringkat awal bermakna mengambil kira

keperluan-keperluan seperti kos guna tenaga, kos penyenggaraan dan kos untuk

menjalankannya.

Perkara 3.1c(ii) Amalan kejuruteraan yang baik dan mematuhi Engineering Code of

Practice atau engineering regulation yang diiktiraf.

Perkara 3.1c(iv) Mengambil kira kos asal projek (modal perbelanjaan), kos

penyenggaraan dan kos operasi.

Perkara 3.1c(v) Mengambil kira prinsip penyenggaraan yang cekap dan berkesan.

Perkara 3.1c(vi) Mematuhi undang-undang dan peraturan pihak berkuasa seperti JBPM,

JKKP, JAS, Suruhanjaya Tenaga dan lain-lain.

Perkara 3.1e mengenai aspek kecekapan tenaga dalam bangunan iaitu Beberapa garis

panduan mengenai kecekapan tenaga dalam bangunan telah dikeluarkan oleh Jabatan

Standard Malaysia (MS 1525:2001) dan KTAK. Pematuhan kepada garis panduan ini

hendaklah dibuat semasa mereka bentuk sistem perkhidmatan dalaman supaya projek

berkenaan bukan sahaja mencapai keberkesanan kos, tetapi juga menjimatkan dari segi

penyenggaraan dan kos operasi. Antara langkah yang boleh ditekankan melalui aspek

kecekapan tenaga dalam reka bentuk sesebuah projek adalah:-

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(i) Reka bentuk projek yang mengekalkan suasana ’hijau’ di persekitaran

bangunan;

(ii) Orientasi bangunan yang optimum dengan kedudukan tingkap di arah utara

dan selatan supaya dapat mengurangkan kesan haba matahari;

(iii) Penggunaan penebat haba pada dinding dan bumbung bangunan;

(iv) Sistem penyaman udara yang efisyen di mana setiap zon bangunan boleh

dikawal berdasarkan kepada keperluan dan permintaannya;

(v) Penggunaan secara maksimum pencahayaan semula jadi di samping

penggunaan sistem lampu berkecekapan tinggi yang boleh dilaras untuk

disesuaikan dengan tahap pencahayaan sekitaran dan permintaan;

(vi) Penggunaan variable speed drives on pumps and fans;

(vii) Sistem switching lampu yang fleksibel;

(viii) High efficiency chillers with storage of chilled water;

(ix) Penggunaan high efficiency motor untuk perkhidmatan dalam bangunan.

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