Field Analysis of Thermal Comfort in Two Energy Efficient Office Buildings in Malaysia

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a growing interest to include passive concepts in buildings as a design strategy for achieving energy efficiency and optimum indoor thermal comfort in workspace as well. The paper attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of tropical passive solar control components in integrating thermal comfort with energy efficiency in office building. Field measurements are carried out in selected workspace of two office buildings that have been practiced the passive solar control. Solar radiation, air temperature, globe temperature, relative humidity and air velocity were measured for seven days including the non-working days, both indoors and outdoors for each building along with direct occupant's survey to compare the measurement and the votes of occupants under the same environment. The result shows that the thermal comfort parameters lie within the recommended comfort zone of Malaysian Standards with exception of an air movement in the workspace of both buildings. The result suggested workers' preferable condition.