Energy Efficiency Improvement and Strategies in Malaysian Office Buildings (Tropical Climate): A Review

Abstract

Buildings are one of the highest energy consumption contributors in the construction sector in Malaysia. Some parameters are acknowledged as the factors that influence the efficiency of building energy, including climate conditions, location and type of buildings. Optimizing the energy efficiency of buildings is a more economical strategy to reduce energy consumption, especially for tropical climates, and Malaysia naturally has plenty of sunlight and consistency throughout the year. Therefore, this paper discusses Malaysia different building designs and policies to improve energy consumption and efficiency of office buildings in Malaysia. In addition, the limitations encountered and the initiatives implemented by the Malaysian government in improving energy usage in the office building are also included. This review is expected to provide a framework and explanation that can be used as a guide to identify which approach is most appropriate to help optimize energy efficiency for buildings in developing and tropical countries such as Malaysia.