RESEARCH TITLE:

GREEN BUILDING CONCEPTS AND CRITERIA FOR THE TNB TRANSMISSION SUBSTATIONS

NAME OF STUDENT :
STUDENT NO. :

i. RESEARCH BACKGROUND / PROBLEM STATEMENT

Many evidences have shown the detrimental impact of buildings on the environment. In
the same spirit of sustainable development, green building concept was introduced as a
strategy towards minimizing the adverse consequences of buildings and construction
activities. Green building concept refers to the application of environmental responsive
and resource-efficient measures in the design and construction of buildings that leads to
significant reduction or elimination of the negative impact of buildings on the environment
and human. The concept has been implemented in many countries. Outcome of various
projects reveal convincing benefits that render its role towards the global sustainability
agenda, indisputable. The move to adopt this concept in Malaysia has been more
rigorous in the last five years, primarily due to the strong support and involvement of the
government, professional bodies and organizations as the main drivers.

A key aspect of sustainability is the need to ‘measure’ and set performance targets /
criteria. Hence, the need for appropriate assessment tools. Example of established
assessment tools for green buildings developed in various parts of the world are
BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) in the UK & Canada, LEED (Leader
in Energy and Environmental Design) in the USA, HKBEAM (Building Environmental
Assessment Method) in Hong Kong and Green Mark in Singapore. Assessment tools are
however, contextual specific as they are based on criteria that are peculiar to the needs
of the affected stakeholders and the nature of the green building project. In 2009
Malaysia’s first green building measurement system, the Green Building Index (GBI) was
established. It was a collaborative effort between the Malaysian Institute of Architects
(PAM) and the Association of Certified Engineers of Malaysia (ACEM). Since then they
have developed 3 GBI assessment tools for buildings and constructions of various
nature namely residential, non-residential, existing building and new construction. This
research proposal recognizes the need for more assessment tools that addresses
specific project conditions to support green building agenda in the country. The aim of
this research is to formulate a set of green assessment criteria appropriate for TNB
transmission substations. Its use is to assess and benchmark the performance of
existing facilities, and as a guide for future substations.

This research emulates efforts by local organizations such as PAM and ACEM who
developed the local GBI tools, and foreign power company such as CLP Power Hong
Kong who had implemented the green building concept for substations in their country.
In meeting the research goal, the study will generate prime data regarding the
stakeholders’ concerns which will in turn reveal a justified configuration that balances
between the three sustainable dimensions of social, environment and economy. In
addition the research will provide database on the performance level of existing facilities
that could lead to strategic management response towards operational and technological
improvements.
ii. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The specific objectives are:

 To review alternative green design concepts and solutions that address peculiarities
of a transmission substation facility
 To ascertain social, visual and environmental consequences of 2 cases of TNB
Transmission Substations (132KV or 275KV) so as to establish the performance of
existing building stock in meeting established ‘green building’ criteria
 To formulate and validate ‘green building’ criteria applicable for the assessment of
new and existing transmission substations

iii. SCOPE OF STUDY

The study focuses only on the TNB Transmission substation (132KV and 275KV) in Malaysia. The
study adopts a case study approach which involves only a sample group of respondents / public and
selected experts/ key stakeholders.

iv. METHODOLOGY

Strategy / approach: Combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches.

Data collection instruments: literature review, review of precedent cases, social survey
(questionnaire / interview), environmental data logging, Focus Group,

The phases of study:

Phase 1: Background study: Inventory on TNB transmission substations, and review of regulatory
documents and green building assessment techniques. Research activities include literature review,
field survey, document analysis, and technical study trip.

Phase 2: Data collection and performance analysis

Tools used:
(i) Social Survey for Public and Expert group. Target group: samples of key stakeholders.
Respondents’ perspectives, concerns, and expectations on transmission substation in a
particular context / neighbourhood will be collected and assessed.
(ii) Measurement and physical monitoring of key environmental data (e.g. noise level, heat transfer,
daylight)
(iii) Computation of Life Cycle Analysis and weighting of Green Building criteria (based on most
relevant Green Building tools available)

Phase 3: Initial formulation: Feedback, finalize and validate

Green building criteria for substation formulated will be presented and deliberated at a Focus Group
session. The criteria will be revised / improved accordingly for the final verification process.

Writing up: Draft, progressive report, paper submission of initial findings, final findings

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