1.

0 INTRODUCTION

According to the World Green Building Council, 2019, the construction sector is one of the main
contributors to the environmental contamination in the world. It leads to global warming as
approximately half of all non-renewable resources consumed by humankind are used in
construction, contributing to it as one of the least sustainable industries. According to UNFCCC
COP26, 2021, the construction sectors are responsible for around 40% of global energy-related
carbon emissions and 50% of extracted materials. As a consequence, over 800 million people will be
vulnerable to sea-level rise and coastal flooding and 1.6 billion urban dwellers will be exposed to
extreme high temperatures based on the study done by the World Green Building Council, 2021.
Plus, by 2060, the world’s building stock will double and almost 70% of the population is projected to
live in urban areas. Hence, it is undeniable that in the future, more districts will be developed into
concrete jungle in order to occupy the increased population.

In an attempt to avoid pollution issues from getting deteriorated due to the construction
development, sustainable construction is no longer just a buzzword. However, majority buildings in
Malaysia or even globally still implement traditional methods that are not always sustainable and
eco-friendly. Although green construction is committed to ameliorate the environmental impacts and
has been adopted in Malaysia’s construction sectors for over one decade, sustainable construction
still does not receive rigid support and responses from the project’s stakeholders. In fact, there are
some obstacles and challenges in the adoption of green construction. First of all, high initial cost is
the prime contributor to this scenario. Green construction requires higher upfront cost for
operations and its future maintenance fee is expensive as well. Secondly, majority people are
unaware of the benefits and significance of green construction and sustainable living, making them
disinterested in the green concepts. Complexity construction processes also result in the loss of faith
of stakeholders in the adoption of green technology. This is due to the reason that green
construction requires advanced technological performance, skilled labour and professional
knowledge about the green policies and standards. Nonetheless, we should realise that Earth is the
one and only planet that offers humankind food, water and habitat for living, implementation of
sustainable development needs to be carried out in time. To promote eco-friendly and sustainable
development, green technology such as passive and active design, industrialised building system
(IBS), renewable energy sources, construction waste management and green building materials
ought to be emphasised by every project’s stakeholders. In this session, passive and active design will
be discussed thoroughly and comprehensively in the next paragraph.

Passive design, an approach to building design and energy efficiency that takes advantage of natural
resources and utilises building's inherent features to maintain a comfortable environment without
relying on mechanical heating and cooling systems. The primary goal of passive design is to reduce
energy consumption and lower carbon emission, contributing to the sustainable and eco-friendly
construction. Normally, passive designs are decided based on several factors such as temperature
and humidity of the environment. For example, Malaysia, being a tropical country with a hot and
humid climate, mainly requires passive design to reduce the reliance on energy-intensive heating,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Actually there are a lot of passive designs nowadays
which are efficient in achieving comfortable temperatures and good indoor air quality such as
building orientation, natural ventilation, thermal mass, insulation, daylighting, shading, green
building materials and natural landscaping. For example, creating a shady environment for the
occupants, shading devices such as brise-soleil is recommended to be constructed around the
building to help in blocking the direct sunlight. It provides shade to indoor areas by reducing heat
gain to keep the spaces cooler and shady. Besides, the use of reflective and light-coloured materials
on building exteriors is also efficient in offering a cooling environment. For example, the external wall
of the building will be painted in white colour which aims to reflect the sun rays from entering the
interior spaces. For the roof design, roof insulation, cool roof or high albedo roof will be taken into
consideration. These kinds of roofs are designed to reflect the sunlight as much as possible and
absorb less heat compared to traditional roofing. They are constructed using materials that have
higher solar reflectance and higher thermal emittance, committed to reduce heat transfer from the
roof to the interior spaces. Not only that, greenery such as green walls and vegetation are suitable
for landscape design. These designs are not only for increasing the building’s aesthetic value but also
to reduce the heat effect and cools the surrounding area. Greenery also helps in reducing the
amount of carbon dioxide gases and provides more oxygen through photosynthesis which will help in
maintaining the air quality, offering a refreshing environment to the residents.

Active design, an approach that utilises mechanical and electrical systems to enhance energy
efficiency and environmental performance. These systems are integrated into the building’s design
and operation to provide control over comfort and energy use. Energy-efficient HVAC systems such as
heat pumps and geothermal systems, renewable energy, energy-efficient lighting such as LED and CFL
bulbs, energy management systems, smart building automation, rainwater harvesting and greywater
recycling as well as passive solar heating are examples of passive designs. For instance, in Malaysia,
many houses and buildings nowadays have installed a smart building automation system which
utilises the integration of IoT devices and sensors for energy management, automation and data-
driven insights to optimise building performance. These smart technologies control the lighting and
cooling system based on real-time conditions and occupant needs to achieve energy-efficiency.
Besides, solar panels, one of the most prevalent renewable resources being used in Malaysia,
utilising the sunlight to generate electricity. Not only being used in building, the government also
responded to the sustainable development by installing solar lamp posts to generate electricity using
sunray to light up the lamp post. Solar panels nowadays are technologically advanced as they can
change their orientation and inclination by following the sun’s trajectory for greater efficiency.

2.0 CASE STUDY

S11 House, one of the green buildings in Malaysia, located in an established older suburb of Petaling
Jaya, Selangor. Initially, it is an existing old house which was built in the early 1960’s and had become
dilapidated and run-down over the years. A new green tropical house which its design is
conceptualised along the lines of a tree was planned over the site with a total site area of 1240 sq m.
It is owned and designed by Dr. Tan Loke Mun with the aim of achieving the highest level Platinum
rating of Malaysia’s Green Building Index (GBI). A total cost of RM 2.1 million is spent to construct
this green building. In the building design, a lot of sustainable design strategies and passive designs
are used in order to maintain the thermal comfort of the building such as the stack ventilation, cross
ventilation, overhang roof building orientation and building material. Not only that, passive designs
are also being used such as energy-efficient lighting, renewable energy, daylight responsive lighting
control and energy-efficient HVAC system, etc.

S11 house was constructed in the midst of trees retained from the previous building, providing a
natural shelter for the living spaces underneath it. Not only that, these trees also form a natural
landscaping which has increased the aesthetic value of the building. As shown in Figure 1, some of
the external wall is formed using green walls, contributing to greener and more livable urban
environments. The greenery not only results in air quality improvement and visual appeal by
softening the harsh line of architecture, it is also efficient in thermal regulation as the green walls
offer a natural ventilation, reducing heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter, which can
contribute to energy savings in buildings. In order to minimise the construction waste, the
demolished old house materials from the 1960s house were reused for the constructions of the S11
house.For example, old crushed concrete roof tiles were reused for gravel fill, old clay bricks for
feature walls, roofing timbers were used as formwork struts, old steel were all sold off to steel yards,
crushed concrete and cement aprons were re-used for backfilling aggregate. It is undeniable that
concrete is hard to dispose of due to its heavy weight and transportation problems. Through
salvaging construction materials used, it may lessen the load on our landfills. In addition, it also lead
to reduction of CO₂ emissions associated with concrete production. Using old concrete to produce
aggregate takes less energy than mining virgin aggregate and it helps to conserve virgin aggregate
supplies.

From the aspect of renewable energy, a specially designed wind turbine combined with a steel
framed glazed pyramid provides the house with stack effect ventilation and light pipes. The wind
turbines are not only driven by the wind, but also utilise the convection process when the air within
the glass pyramids heats up due to greenhouse effect. A minimum three degree differential is
enough to spin the turbines by convection. Besides using wind power, it also utilises solar power to
generate electricity. In this context, a 5 KW peak photovoltaic solar panel is mounted onto the
canopy roof which is pitched at 5 degrees to capture the maximum amount of sunlight to optimise
energy generation. Not only that, as a green building, S11 houses committed to achieve minimal
impact on air quality by minimising hazardous emission into the environment. Thus, the majority of
houses has bare natural finishes raw off-form concrete walls and ceilings, cement plastered walls
without paint and natural fair-faced common red clay brickwork. Only limited walls are painted with
Low VOC paints. In this context, volatile organic compounds (VOC) are chemical substances
contained in the paint that evaporate at room temperature, releasing toxic gases into the air,
contributing to lower air quality and potential health risks. Paints with low VOC contain significantly
fewer volatile chemicals, reducing emissions of harmful elements which will cause respiratory issues
or allergic reactions into the air during and after painting.

Moreover, S11 House also incorporates effective water management through rainwater harvesting
system, efficient water fittings and grey water recycling. Rainwater is collected from rooftops using
gutters and downspouts, directed into a series of rainwater harvesting tanks to go through a series of
sedimentation control for non-potable use. While, greywater is wastewater generated from domestic
activities like bathing, laundry, and dish-washing, excluding toilet waste. The greywater then will be
treated through filtration and disinfection, be used for landscape irrigation and toilet flushing.
According to the Green Building Index (GBI), using rainwater for toilet flushing and irrigation has
reduced annual potable water consumption by 35%. To conserve and reuse the water resources,
efficient water fittings play an important role as they are able to reduce more than 67% of water
compared to conventional plumbing fittings. For instance, dual flush toilet system, recycled water
toilet system, waterless urinals and water taps with reduction valves for economical water flow are
the water fittings used in S11 House to reduce the water used. Recycled water toilet system, an eco-
friendly design W+W that combines sink and toilet, reusing water from the wash basin for the water
closet to promote water efficiency, hygiene and environmental sustainability. As a result, well-
planned water management is significant to water conservation and reduces strain on local water
supplies.

Above are the sustainable designs that had been practised in S11 House in order to promote an
environmental sound and . Design such as building orientation, artificial light and daylighting as well
as efficient HVAC system and natural ventilation will be discussed comprehensively in the following
section.
3.0 BUILDING ORIENTATION

An important factor in both architectural design and energy efficiency is the orientation of the
building.The S11 house in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, serves as an illustration of the significance of this
principle. By orienting the house north-south, it was possible to optimise its exposure to the
refreshing breezes that pass through during the scorching summer months while reducing heat
absorption that occurs during the sunny midday periods. This particular orientation substantially
enhances the energy efficiency of the dwelling through the reduction of air conditioning
requirements.

Nevertheless, each building orientation possesses a unique collection of benefits and drawbacks. A
north-south orientation, such as the one found in the S11 house, reduces heat absorption and
provides exceptional cross-ventilation; however, neighbourly views may compromise privacy.
However, an east-west orientation provides enhanced privacy by enabling the development of
enclosed areas that are directed in a direction opposite to the street. However, this could result in
increased heat absorption in the afternoon, which would require the operation of air conditioning.
Lastly is custom orientation. It, depending on the individual needs of the structure and the local
environment, may deliver the maximum energy efficiency. Using this method, the best orientation
for the structure is determined by examining the wind-rose and seasonal sun-path charts.

Numerous variables influence the selection of building orientation, including the type of structure,
local climate, and design specifications. For instance, a north-south orientation may be preferable in
facilities such as schools or hospitals that necessitate more natural light. Conversely, a residential
structure might demand greater seclusion, thereby requiring an individualised orientation.

Another crucial component of energy efficiency is site planning. It concerns how the structure is
positioned on the property with respect to terrain, wind directions, and sun trajectories. Effective
site design may promote energy efficiency by maximising the use of natural light, minimising the
amount of artificial lighting required, and encouraging the use of renewable energy sources. One way
to drastically cut down on heating and cooling requirements is to arrange the building to get the
most sunshine in the winter and the least amount in the summer.

4.0 NATURAL LIGHTING

Incorporating natural light in buildings which is also known as daylighting, offers numerous
advantages that contribute to both the environmental sustainability and human well-being within
the built environment. The primary advantage is it can reduce the demand for artificial light, which in
turn reduces electricity expenses. Another advantage is that it can also help keep HVAC costs down.
When correctly managed, natural light sources emit almost little heat, in contrast to electrical
lighting. Most buildings that use daylighting experience an overall reduction in energy consumption
that varies from 15 to 40 percent. The sustainable design of the S11 House takes into consideration
not only the well-being and productivity of its occupants but also the reduction of energy
consumption and the promotion of environmental sustainability as its top priorities.

As we explore the integration of daylighting strategies in design with active lighting, it is to

optimize both natural and artificial light sources for enhanced visual comfort, energy efficiency, and
overall occupant well-being. By referring to S11 House, it has to utilise the daylighting techniques
which is the installation of a light shaft. The gloomy or poorly ventilated places can be illuminated
and aired out utilizing light shafts. Optimal light reflection and natural ventilation will be achieved by
lining light shafts with steel-framed glazed pyramids. One more thing that makes daylighting and
active lighting work together is the steel-framed glazed pyramids. The main objective of this pyramid
is to capture sunlight for daylighting reasons, which demonstrates that it can contain artificial lighting
equipment. No matter the outside lighting conditions, this dual functionality will allow for a smooth
transition between natural and artificial light, guaranteeing appropriate illumination levels. Thus,
daylight and active lighting work together to create a flexible and pleasant home.

5.0 INSULATION, THERMAL MASS AND VENTILATION

Insulation, thermal mass and ventilation are categorised as passive designs. All of them play an
important role in the building designs with the aims of achieving energy efficiency, promoting
sustainable construction as well as satisfying occupants’ comfort and demands.

First and foremost, the use of high quality insulation helps to minimise heat transfer between the
interior and exterior environment through walls, roofs, windows and doors. Normally, high quality
insulated building components are made from materials that have higher solar reflectance and
higher thermal emittance. There are several considerations for effective insulation. Proper
installation is crucial for insulation efficiency. Gaps or compression can significantly reduce its
performance. Besides, choosing insulation material with higher R-values. The R-value is a measure of
a material's thermal resistance, indicating its ability to resist the flow of heat. Next, always ensure
that the insulation is in compliance with local building codes and standards. In S11 house, the canopy
roof is constructed of steel metal sheets coated in a light off-white colour to minimise heat
absorption. The roof insulation comprises 200mm thick 50 kg/m3 rockwool and two layers of heat
reflective foil. A 200mm thick ventilated air space is left between the metal ceiling lining and the
rockwool to further improve heat insulation.

In order to maintain interior temperature at an appropriate level, using high thermal mass building
materials such as concrete and bricks in the construction design is crucial. Thermal mass refers to the
ability of a material to absorb, store and release heat energy. It plays a significant role in moderating
temperature fluctuations within a building by absorbing excess heat during warm periods and
releasing it during cold periods. For example, in S11 house, natural fair-faced red clay bricks are used
as main feature walls in the interior spaces. As the high thermal mass materials, bricks are able to
absorb and retain heat, and then slowly release it. Brick remains warm or cool for a long period after
the heat or air-conditioning system has shut off, indirectly it reduces the heating and cooling
demand, leading to energy efficiency and improved sustainability.

Ventilation is crucial to ensure proper air circulation and maintaining indoor air quality in a building,
especially buildings in Malaysia since Malaysia is located on the Equator line, having hot average
temperature and humid climate all year around. Ventilation involves the air movement to remove
pollutants, control temperature and regulate moisture levels. In S11 house, the swimming pool and
koi pond are located at two extreme north-south ends and provide evaporative cooling for the
house. Evaporative cooling acts as a heat sink and helps to passively cool buildings, reducing the
energy consumption of air conditioning systems. Moreover, most of the internal partition walls from
the old building were removed to promote cross-ventilation and to create unobstructed space
between the living room, koi pond and pool. Cross ventilation facilitates the movement of fresh air
by harnessing external wind pressure differentials. It creates openings on opposite sides of a building
to allow air to flow through and exit via another set of openings. At the same time, stack effect, one
of the natural ventilation also being applied in the S11 house, operates based on temperature and
density differences to create airflow. During the hot season, the warm indoor air rises up, creating an
upward airflow, then flows out from the building either through open windows, ventilation openings,
or unintentional holes in ceilings. The rising warm air reduces the pressure in the base of the
building, drawing cold air in through either doors, windows, or other openings. On the contrary, at
night or during the rainy season, the heat flow is reversed which is from the building to the
environment. Although cross-ventilation and stack effect are both natural ventilation, there are
several differences between them. Cross-ventilation is primarily driven by external wind whereas the
stack effect is based on temperature and density differences within the building. Besides, cross-
ventilation operates horizontally, moving air from one side of the building to the other while the
stack effect creates vertical airflow, with warm air rising and cooler air descending.

Actually the use of insulation, thermal mass and ventilation had substituted the energy-intensive
HVAC system, leading to lower utilities bills and reduced environmental impact. It is due to the
reason that without the installation of an air-conditioning system, the passive designs are able to
create cooler interior spaces by reflecting more sunlight and absorbing less heat to avoid the heat
from getting into the house. Not only that, during the rainy season, high thermal mass materials are
also able to retain the heat to maintain the indoor temperature at a suitable level instead of relying
on the heating system. Natural ventilation such as cross ventilation and stack effect not only
committed to the temperature control but also air circulation. The presence of operable windows or
vents help in introducing the fresh outdoor air in and circulate within a space. At the same time, it
also helps in replacing the warmer indoor air with the cooler outdoor air.

6.0 ROLE OF QUANTITY SURVEYOR IN SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

Quantity Surveyors play important roles in sustainable building technologies. They are crucial to
energy efficiency, waste reduction, and resource optimisation. Their procurement policies prioritise
environmentally friendly suppliers and resources, integrating sustainability throughout the supply
chain.

They provide standards to assess sustainable features' real-world effect and ROI. They assess the
costs of sustainable building materials, technology, and design choices, revealing that eco-friendly
solutions generally save money over time.

They suggest financially viable and long-term sustainable construction options to stakeholders. They
emphasise the economic benefits of sustainable building technologies via cost-benefit assessments.

They also improve stakeholder talks by transforming technical and financial information into simple
insights that promote sustainable building collaboration. Finally, they verify projects meet green
building standards and laws to help buildings get marketability and sustainability certifications.
7.0 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this paragraph shows how the building industry poses serious environmental problems
and how important it is to use sustainable methods. As the world's population and urbanisation
continue to grow, eco-friendly building methods are even more important to reduce the damage that
the industry does to the environment. Even though there are problems, like high start-up costs and
not enough people knowing about green building, it is necessary for the planet's health.

The next part of the discussion goes into more detail about passive and active design concepts and
how important they are for making buildings that are sustainable and use little energy. Passive design
uses natural factors to keep indoor spaces comfortable. Some examples of passive design are
building orientation, natural ventilation, and green building materials. Active design, which uses
mechanical and electrical systems like solar panels and smart building technology, makes buildings
more energy efficient and better for the environment.

The S11 House in Malaysia is used as an example of how sustainable building concepts can be used in
real life. Some of the building's unique features are its north-south layout, creative use of natural
lighting, and energy-saving features like insulation, thermal mass, and ventilation. The house also
uses green energy sources, collects rainwater, and recycles graywater, showing how to be
environmentally friendly in a complete way.

In the parts that follow, it will be discussed more about how important building orientation is,
focusing on how it affects energy efficiency and occupant comfort. After a lot of discussion, natural
lighting stands out as a multifaceted way to cut down on electricity costs, HVAC costs, and total
energy use. The S11 House's use of both natural light and artificial light shows how to create lighting
that works well with other elements.

Passive designs include things like insulation, thermal mass, and airflow that are important for saving
energy and making sure people are comfortable. The S11 House uses good insulation, thermal mass
materials like natural fair-faced red clay bricks, and good ventilation systems, which shows how
important they are for lowering energy use and supporting sustainability.

Last but not least, the part that Quantity Surveyors play in environmentally friendly building
technology is explained. They're very important for figuring out how much things will cost, offering
environmentally friendly options that won't break the bank, and making sure that projects meet
green building standards. Being involved in rules for buying things, figuring out costs and benefits,
and talking to stakeholders all help to make the building process more environmentally friendly.

In conclusion, the S11 House case study shows how passive and active design principles can work
together. This, along with good building orientation, natural lighting methods, and passive designs
like insulation and ventilation, makes for a complete approach to sustainable construction. The fact
that Quantity Surveyors are involved makes the economic benefits and long-term success of these
practices even clearer. This shows how important it is for everyone to work together to promote
sustainable building technologies for a more sustainable future.