IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/apb/jahsss/2017p182-192.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Overcooling of office buildings in Malaysia

Author

Listed:
  • Nurul Zahirah Mokhtar Azizi

    (Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia)

  • Nazirah Zainul Abidin

    (Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia)

  • Nurul Sakina Mokhtar Azizi

    (Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia)

  • Nasyairi Mat Nasir

    (Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia)

Abstract

As the issue of global warming becomes more substantial, office buildings in Malaysia widely use air conditioning as an active design solution to cool the building. However, thermal comfort is often a problem in many offices using centralized air conditioner where occupants complain that the indoor climate is too cold. The overcooling effect is a result of over-specification of air conditioning systems, which lead to inefficient energy consumption and thermal discomfort. This paper identifies and explains the underlying causes of over-specification. The investigation focuses on understanding the factors affecting active design decisions. A total of 39 construction consultants participated in face-to-face interviews that were conducted in individual and group meetings. Research findings revealed that the problem can be attributed to the practice of quick solutions, resistance from design consultants, a ‘bigger is better’ mentality, unsupportive fee structures, and poor testing and commissioning practices. The highest contributing factor is the resistance of design consultants to change and consider new solutions that break away from customary practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Nurul Zahirah Mokhtar Azizi & Nazirah Zainul Abidin & Nurul Sakina Mokhtar Azizi & Nasyairi Mat Nasir, 2017. "Overcooling of office buildings in Malaysia," Journal of Advances in Humanities and Social Sciences, Dr. Yi-Hsing Hsieh, vol. 3(3), pages 182-192.
    • Handle: RePEc:apb:jahsss:2017:p:182-192
    DOI: 10.20474/jahss-3.3.5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://tafpublications.com/platform/Articles/full-jahss3.3.5.php
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://tafpublications.com/gip_content/paper/jahss-3.3.5.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.20474/jahss-3.3.5?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Frank Lovett, 2006. "Rational Choice Theory and Explanation," Rationality and Society, , vol. 18(2), pages 237-272, May.
    2. Unknown, 2016. "Energy for Sustainable Development," Conference Proceedings 253270, Guru Arjan Dev Institute of Development Studies (IDSAsr).
    3. Sorrell, Steve, 2003. "Making the link: climate policy and the reform of the UK construction industry," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(9), pages 865-878, July.
    4. Omer, Abdeen Mustafa, 2008. "Energy, environment and sustainable development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(9), pages 2265-2300, December.
    5. Yousif El-Ghalayini, 2016. "The effects of high performance work system on employee attitudes: A study of international organization," Journal of Administrative and Business Studies, Professor Dr. Usman Raja, vol. 2(5), pages 248-263.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Reihaneh Aram∗ & Halil Zafer Alibaba, 2018. "Investigating Sustainability of the Traditional Buildings in Kermanshah, Iran," International Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Dr. Mohammad Hamad Al-khresheh, vol. 4(6), pages 235-244.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dongqing Sun & Fanzhi Wang & Nanxu Chen & Jing Chen, 2021. "The Impacts of Technology Shocks on Sustainable Development from the Perspective of Energy Structure—A DSGE Model Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-20, August.
    2. Hussain, Abid & Sarangi, Gopal K. & Pandit, Anju & Ishaq, Sultan & Mamnun, Nabir & Ahmad, Bashir & Jamil, Muhammad Khalid, 2019. "Hydropower development in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region: Issues, policies and opportunities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 446-461.
    3. Villanthenkodath, Muhammed Ashiq & Mahalik, Mantu Kumar, 2021. "Does economic growth respond to electricity consumption asymmetrically in Bangladesh? The implication for environmental sustainability," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    4. Shigeru Kimura & Yanfei Li, 2016. "Study on Power Grid Interconnection and Electricity Trading in Northeast Asia," Books, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), number 2015-rpr-09 edited by Shigeru Kimura & Yanfei Li, enero-mar.
    5. Shahbaz, Muhammad & Hoang, Thi Hong Van & Mahalik, Mantu Kumar & Roubaud, David, 2017. "Energy consumption, financial development and economic growth in India: New evidence from a nonlinear and asymmetric analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 199-212.
    6. Abo-Elyousr, Farag K. & Elnozahy, Ahmed, 2018. "Bi-objective economic feasibility of hybrid micro-grid systems with multiple fuel options for islanded areas in Egypt," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(PA), pages 37-56.
    7. Vo, D.H. & Nguyen, H.M. & Vo, A.T. & McAleer, M.J., 2019. "CO2 Emissions, Energy Consumption and Economic Growth," Econometric Institute Research Papers EI2019-11, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus School of Economics (ESE), Econometric Institute.
    8. Yasser Fathi Nassar & Mansour Awiedat Salem & Kaiss Rateb Iessa & Ibraheem Mohamed AlShareef & Khaled Amer Ali & Massoud Ali Fakher, 2021. "Estimation of CO2 emission factor for the energy industry sector in libya: a case study," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(9), pages 13998-14026, September.
    9. Schlör, Holger & Venghaus, Sandra & Hake, Jürgen-Friedrich, 2018. "The FEW-Nexus city index – Measuring urban resilience," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 382-392.
    10. Didem Dizdaroglu, 2017. "The Role of Indicator-Based Sustainability Assessment in Policy and the Decision-Making Process: A Review and Outlook," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-28, June.
    11. Mollik, Sazib & Rashid, M.M. & Hasanuzzaman, M. & Karim, M.E. & Hosenuzzaman, M., 2016. "Prospects, progress, policies, and effects of rural electrification in Bangladesh," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 553-567.
    12. Jaime de Melo & Jean-Marc Solleder, 2019. "The role of an Environmental Goods Agreement in the quest to improve the regime complex for climate change," Working Papers hal-02394536, HAL.
    13. Grenestam, Erik & Nordin, Martin, 2018. "Estimating the impact of agri-environmental payments on nutrient runoff using a unique combination of data," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 388-398.
    14. Obsatar Sinaga & Mohd Haizam Mohd Saudi & Djoko Roespinoedji & Mohd Shahril Ahmad Razimi, 2019. "The Dynamic Relationship between Natural Gas and Economic Growth: Evidence from Indonesia," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 9(3), pages 388-394.
    15. Richard Green & Yacob Mulugetta & Zhong Xiang Zhang, 2014. "Sustainable energy policy," Chapters, in: Giles Atkinson & Simon Dietz & Eric Neumayer & Matthew Agarwala (ed.), Handbook of Sustainable Development, chapter 33, pages 532-550, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    16. Asongu, Simplice A. & Odhiambo, Nicholas M., 2021. "Inequality, finance and renewable energy consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(P1), pages 678-688.
    17. Li, Li & Lei, Yalin & Wu, Sanmang & He, Chunyan & Yan, Dan, 2018. "Study on the coordinated development of economy, environment and resource in coal-based areas in Shanxi Province in China: Based on the multi-objective optimization model," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 80-86.
    18. Shirzad, Mohammad & Kazemi Shariat Panahi, Hamed & Dashti, Behrouz B. & Rajaeifar, Mohammad Ali & Aghbashlo, Mortaza & Tabatabaei, Meisam, 2019. "A comprehensive review on electricity generation and GHG emission reduction potentials through anaerobic digestion of agricultural and livestock/slaughterhouse wastes in Iran," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 571-594.
    19. Mohammed A. Al-Ghamdi & Khalid S. Al-Gahtani, 2022. "Integrated Value Engineering and Life Cycle Cost Modeling for HVAC System Selection," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-30, February.
    20. Teng, Meixuan & Burke, Paul J. & Liao, Hua, 2019. "The demand for coal among China's rural households: Estimates of price and income elasticities," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 928-936.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:apb:jahsss:2017:p:182-192. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Yi-Hsing Hsieh (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://tafpublications.com/platform/published_papers/12 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.