1.

The importance of environmental factors in building design

Thermal comfort
Increased occupant satisfaction
Enhanced performance/productivity
Reduced absenteeism
Marketing advantage
Reduced liability
Lower operations and maintenance costs

2. Understand the fundamental theories of heat transfer principle.
Heat, by definition, is the energy in transit due to temperature difference. Whenever exists a
temperature difference in a medium or between media, heat flow must. Different types of
heat transfer processes are called modes. These modes are shown in Figure 3.1. When a
temperature gradient exists in a stationary medium, which may be a solid or a fluid, heat
flows under the law of conduction heat transfer. On the other hand if the temperature
gradient exists between a surface and a moving fluid we use the term Convection. The third
mode of heat transfer is termed Radiation and it needs no medium to transfer through since
it is driven by electromagnetic waves emitted from all surfaces of finite temperature, so there
is a net heat transfer by radiation between two surfaces at different temperatures.
3. The source of heat gain or loss, questioning techniques based on why? and how?
etc.

a) How to perform a heat-loss calculation?
b) Why a house loses heat?
c) What are the parameters in calculating heat loss?
d) What are source of heat gain in building?

4. Thermal comfort and energy saving strategies without jeopardizing human
satisfactions.

a) Bioclimatic designs aim to reduce the energy consumption rate required to operate a
building while ensuring a comfortable climate for the occupants. To do so, 2
strategies apply:

Comfort in the summer calls for the cooling strategy :
protection from direct sunlight and solar gain,
minimizing heat gain*, dissipating excess heat and cooling
naturally.

* heat gain is the amount of heat introduced from internal sources such as electrical
appliances and building occupants. This is the primary difference found between
residential and commercial buildings.

Comfort in the winter calls for the heating strategy:
capturing solar heat gain, storing it in thermal mass,
retaining it through insulation and transmitting it to the
building as needed.


b) Dynamic Insulation works by positioning roller shutters and shading devices on the
faade in order to control thermal exchange. This allows a fluctuation of the g and U-
values that will in return continuously ensure optimal settings, possible strictly
through automation.

The overall heat transfer coefficient (U) measures the rate of heat transfer through a
window area. The lower the U-Value, the better the insulation. To measure the
performance of Dynamic Insulation, U-values for the glazing and shading devices
must be combined: single-glazing with a shading device can actually provide a U-
value that is inferior to double-glazing. A few examples:
1. Single glazing : U = 5,9
2. Double glazing : U = 2,7
3. Triple glazing : U = 1,8
4. Double glazing with roller shutters : U < 1,8
As important as it is to reduce heat transfer through openings, it is also essential to take
advantage of the free heat that is provided by the sun in the winter.

The solar heat gain coefficient (G) measure the solar energy transmittance through
windows. A low SGHC (approx. 0,4) allows limiting energy gain in the summer but also
counters it in the winter.
1. Double glazing : g = 0,59
2. Roller shutter : g = 0,05 0,1
3. Outdoor blinds : g = 0,05 0,2
4. Indoor blinds : g = 0,3 0,5
Ideally, the solar heat gain coefficient G should be at a low in the summer to reduce
passive heat gain and high in the winter to take advantage of a free source of heat.

This can be achieved by combining shading devices and glazing as well as strategic
orientation of the building according to its heating and cooling needs. This is the basis of
Dynamic Insulation.
5. Determine the enhance calculation model practice in Malaysia.

a) thermal transfer value (OTTV)
b) roof thermal transfer value (RTTV)