When Malaysia scoured the region to study some of the sustainable and energy-efficient buildings around South-east Asia back in 2005, there was going to be only one outcome - 'a first'.
It is the first building outside Singapore to obtain the island state's Green Mark platinum rating. Also, it is the first office building in Malaysia to obtain the Green Building Index, GBI platinum rating. Let's hope this will become a catalyst for other corporations and individuals to build more green buildings in the future.
The Diamond Building, double-platinum award winner. Picture by ACICC Malaysia Sdn Bhd via The Star
The most energy-efficient building in SEA
Energy Commission headquarters, the Diamond Building in Putrajaya was named the most energy-efficient building at the Asean Energy Awards (AEA) 2012 held on September 12, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The Diamond Building won the top prize in the category of “New and Existing Buildings”, which was open to buildings that were not more than 5 years old. The AEA, which began in 2000, is an annual awards programme that recognises “outstanding work for excellence, creativity, practicality and dedication to a cause in the field of energy”.
The seven-storey Diamond Building is the first office building in Malaysia to obtain the Green Building Index platinum rating and the first building outside Singapore to obtain the island state's Green Mark platinum rating.
Local firm NR Architect was involved in the design of the building, with Thai architect Dr Soontom Boonyatikam as the principal architect and IEN Consultants as the sustainability consultant.
The Diamond Building uses mostly natural light and its energy consumption is about one-third of a normal building. - via The Star
Quick facts about the Diamond Building
Officially launched : May 2011 by DPM, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Owner : Energy Commission of Malaysia
Principal Architect : Dr Soontorn Boonyatikarn (Thailand)
Main Contractor : Putra Perdana Construction Sdn Bhd
Savings : RM1mil annually in operating costs – about RM950,000 from energy efficiency
and RM45,000 from solar power generation.
Reduced CO2 emissions : 1,400 tonnes per year, equivalent to taking 700 cars off the road.
(Assuming each car has travelled 12,000km.)
Building energy index : 65kWh/m2 per year (without solar PV), 56kWh/m2 per year (with PV).
(The index is the annual amount of electricity used per sq. metre of a building)
Solar PV cells installed : 71.4kWp, which yields about 1,400kWh/m2 a year.
Energy savings : 53% to 61% in overall electricity usage, including lighting and computers,
and 34% in cooling.
Lighting savings of 77% compared to the Green Mark base, but is expected to increase once task lights are distributed. The Green Mark base uses a reference building which is representative of buildings in the country.
The eco-friendly measures cost RM3.4mil – about 6% of the total construction cost. The estimated payback period is 3.5 years.
Water-efficient fittings, rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling (water saved corresponds to consumption of 12 households)
Source: IEN Consultants Sdn Bhd (The consultant for the Diamond Building) & The Star.
It is the first building outside Singapore to obtain the island state's Green Mark platinum rating. Also, it is the first office building in Malaysia to obtain the Green Building Index, GBI platinum rating. Let's hope this will become a catalyst for other corporations and individuals to build more green buildings in the future.
The most energy-efficient building in SEA
Energy Commission headquarters, the Diamond Building in Putrajaya was named the most energy-efficient building at the Asean Energy Awards (AEA) 2012 held on September 12, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The Diamond Building won the top prize in the category of “New and Existing Buildings”, which was open to buildings that were not more than 5 years old. The AEA, which began in 2000, is an annual awards programme that recognises “outstanding work for excellence, creativity, practicality and dedication to a cause in the field of energy”.
The seven-storey Diamond Building is the first office building in Malaysia to obtain the Green Building Index platinum rating and the first building outside Singapore to obtain the island state's Green Mark platinum rating.
Local firm NR Architect was involved in the design of the building, with Thai architect Dr Soontom Boonyatikam as the principal architect and IEN Consultants as the sustainability consultant.
The Diamond Building uses mostly natural light and its energy consumption is about one-third of a normal building. - via The Star
Quick facts about the Diamond Building
Officially launched : May 2011 by DPM, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Owner : Energy Commission of Malaysia
Principal Architect : Dr Soontorn Boonyatikarn (Thailand)
Main Contractor : Putra Perdana Construction Sdn Bhd
Savings : RM1mil annually in operating costs – about RM950,000 from energy efficiency
and RM45,000 from solar power generation.
Reduced CO2 emissions : 1,400 tonnes per year, equivalent to taking 700 cars off the road.
(Assuming each car has travelled 12,000km.)
Building energy index : 65kWh/m2 per year (without solar PV), 56kWh/m2 per year (with PV).
(The index is the annual amount of electricity used per sq. metre of a building)
Solar PV cells installed : 71.4kWp, which yields about 1,400kWh/m2 a year.
Energy savings : 53% to 61% in overall electricity usage, including lighting and computers,
and 34% in cooling.
Lighting savings of 77% compared to the Green Mark base, but is expected to increase once task lights are distributed. The Green Mark base uses a reference building which is representative of buildings in the country.
The eco-friendly measures cost RM3.4mil – about 6% of the total construction cost. The estimated payback period is 3.5 years.
Water-efficient fittings, rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling (water saved corresponds to consumption of 12 households)
Source: IEN Consultants Sdn Bhd (The consultant for the Diamond Building) & The Star.
