The concept of a sustainable building with consideration

to the following aspects:

Reduction in fossil fuels

water conservation

sustainable building materials

waste minimization and avoidance

indoor environmental quality

traffic and transport management

construction and demolition management plan

A special feature of the building design is the inverted pyramid concept, which creates extensive shading of the building to reduce heat gained from the sides of the buildings. It will also enhance the use of daylight to minimize the use of artificial lighting

The Atrium has been

designed to optimise daylight

utilization with reflective

panels and an automatic

roller-blind system responsive

to the intensity as well as the

angle of the incident sunlight.

Solar studies showed that

the 25 tilt angle of the

facades can ensures that

North and South facades

are fully self-shaded

throughout the year, while

it reduces the solar impact

by 41% for the East and

West facades.

The unique shape of the ST

Diamond Building was

designed according to the

climate and solar path of

equatorial Malaysia as

shown at the left figure :

Diamond building Sun Path.

The ST Diamond Building is

designed 50% day lit,

without glare and minimal

heat entry. This is achieved

through extensive faade

day lighting system

simulation to able deeper

daylight penetration.

Fixed white louvers with top

surface mirror finish on the top

side are mounted with a 30 tilt

angle above the light shelf for

glare protection while still

allowing daylight to be

deflected onto the ceiling.

Automated blind with six

different configuration to

maintain the appropriate

day lighting levels at all

times. The blinds with 30%

light transmittance are

adjusted every 15 minutes

and follow a three

different control strategies

for morning, mid-day and

evening

The windows size

becomes larger deeper

into the atrium to cater for

lower daylight levels

A 71.4 kilowatts peak (kWp) photovoltaic (PV) rooftop system has

been installed on the Diamond Building. This is a typical example

of aesthetic integration of mass-produced PV modules into a

rooftop. The shape of the building allows for a bigger area on the

ground for greenery, while the larger roof area provides space for

solar panels. Solar power supplies about 10% of the energy used in

the building. Second generation thin film PV panels are used.

The Diamond Building BIPV

system is equipped with sensors

to measure ambient and

module temperature, solar

irradiance and wind speed.

Data loggers are used to collect

performance data to evaluate

the effectiveness of the BIPV

system installed. PV panels are

installed to harvest sun energy

from East, West, North and

South of the building.

The diamond symbolizes

transparency, value and

durability; characteristics

which represent the

Energy Commissions

role and mission as a

regulatory body. The

unique shape represents

an optimum design

approach to achieve

energy efficiency.

The figure above show that the plan of the Diamond Building which has been designed for the tropical climate by orientating it

optimally for day lighting.

The Diamond Buildings design strategy is

encapsulated through four main aspects:

1. Energy Efficiency

2. Water Efficiency

3. Indoor Environmental

4. Outdoor Environmental Quality

Rainwater harvested is used for toilet flushing and combined with

efficient water fittings such as dual flush toilets, waterless urinals

and water taps equipped with aerators reduces potable water

usage by more than 65%.

To further optimize the water efficiency of the building, grey water

collected from the wash basins is also recycled to irrigate the

wetland at the ground floor.

Cooling in the Diamond

Building is provided via

radiant cooling slabs that

have chilled water pipes

embedded in the concrete

slab itself. This is

complemented with the

conventional cold air supply

system.

As the highest heat capacity

of the building is rested in the

concrete mass, direct

cooling of the concrete slabs

with embedded water pipes

is the most efficient means to

cool the building mass

The plasterboards have low volatile organic compound (VOC) emission and has 30% recycled content.

The floor carpeting is also green labelled for low VOC emission and has at least 10% recycled content.

The interior paint used in the building is also of low VOC content. The workstations contain material that protects against ultra

violet (UV) rays.

coupled with a green roof helps to further reduce urban

heat and effect whereby the hard scape areas are

reduced and replaced with soft green landscape.

Buildings near or surrounded by greenery have lower

ambient temperature (surrounding temperature) than the

ones away from the greenery and it is seen as an

effective way to lower the ambient temperature

Diamond Building is designed to address solutions for

occupants to have alternatives towards a lower carbon

footprint of transportation.

2 Electric Vehicle charging stations are available, 10 % of

parking garage spaces are designated for green/fuel-

efficient vehicles and carpool vehicles; secure bicycle racks;

location served by public transportation and shaded

walkways for pedestrians linking to the master development.

The Diamond Building was designed to avoid direct solar

penetration into the building, thus reducing the cooling load which

contributes to the bulk of the energy consumption in most tropical

buildings. This concept also was done to maximize the passive

design strategies of the upper floors shading the lower floors from

solar heat gain.

However, in making this decision, compromises had to be made.

Passive design strategy (sun shading) was used to reduce the

cooling load while sacrificing the potential areas for active design

strategy (PV panel installation). The tilted faades do not receive

much direct sunlight; therefore PV panels were not installed on the

facades. Therefore, the shape of the building has contributed

greatly to higher BEI.

The use of PERT chilled water pipes is a common feature of energy

efficient buildings in Malaysia. Such a system has effectively

reduced the peak electrical load demand by shifting the electrical

energy usage to an off-peak interval. It is an important factor that

contributes to the reduction in cooling loads. However, the cooling

system s efficiency was compromised to maintain the corporate

image of the office. Effective building automation system, the

installations of energy efficient lights and equipment have also

contributed to low energy usage.

As a result, the Diamond Building has achieved a BEI well beyond

the target value. However, the BEI can still be further improved if

more PV panels can be installed and interior design for the

corporate image is done by taking into account the cooling system.