Enhancing Energy Efficiency in Malaysian Office Buildings: Strategies for Lowering OTTV

Escalating global energy demands have propelled the AEC/FM sectors to prioritize energy-efficient building design practices. In Malaysia and other Asian nations, adherence to energy conservation regulations requires careful assessment of heat gain through the building envelope, with Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV) and Roof Thermal Transfer Value (RTTV) serving as critical performance indicators. This research investigates strategies to reduce OTTV in Malaysian office buildings, specifically focusing on the thermal optimization of the building envelope, with an emphasis on wall design. The study explores the thermal performance of various wall options, including cavity brick with indoor plaster and urea formaldehyde in the cavity, brick veneer with RFL (reflective foil) on both interior and exterior of the frame, polystyrene with fibro cement sheet, polyurethane with fibro cement sheet, and reflective backed gypsum board. OTTV calculations adhere to Malaysian Standards (MS1525:2019), providing insights into the thermal efficiency of each solution. Results demonstrate that all proposed wall options contribute significantly to OTTV reduction. The cavity brick with indoor plaster and urea formaldehyde in the cavity emerges as the optimal solution, offering the most substantial reduction in OTTV. This research emphasizes the value of integrating energy considerations into the early stages of building design. It illustrates the potential of optimizing the building envelope through innovative wall solutions to achieve significant energy savings in Malaysian office buildings. The study underscores the critical role of the building envelope in mitigating OTTV, contributing to the ongoing pursuit of sustainability, energy efficiency, and climate resilience within the built environment.