Mechanical and Fresh Properties of Sustainable Kenaf Fibrous Concrete Incorporating Sorghum Husk Ash

This article describes the findings of an experimental investigation on the performance of concrete using Kenaf Fiber (KF) and Sorghum Husk Ash (SHA) (CEM 1). To characterised the SHA (EDS), microstructural studies such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were performed. CEM 1 was used with the KBF (length, L = 50 mm) and five volume fractions ranging from 0 to 1.0 percent ( = 0.25 percent ). Following that, five concrete mixtures were cast with 10 percent SHA as a substitute for CEM 1. The samples were cured in water and their characteristics were evaluated in both the fresh and hardened stages. In new concrete, the use of Kenaf fibre and SHA lowered slump values while increased VeBe time. When Kenaf fibre was added to either CEM 1 or SHA concrete mixes, it resulted in a good interaction with high tensile and flexural strengths, as well as increased concrete ductility and crack dispersion. When 0.5 percent Kenaf Fibre was added to dry concrete at the age of 56 days, it resulted in the largest increase in tensile and flexural strengths. The research found that utilising KF and SHA to manufacture sustainable green concrete is both technologically and environmentally viabl

Investigating use of daylight in a typical Algerian public classroom typology

The presence of daylight affects human beings both physiologically and psychologically. Admitting daylight into an indoor enclosure improves mood, enhances morale, lowers fatigue, and reduces eyestrain. To adequately capture the characteristics of current daylight design practice in typical Algerian classroom A field observations was carried out in the study area which comprises the school buildings and including performing a series of measurements for daylighting inside the classrooms. This was further confirmed by the use of simulation using IES software. As investigated the standard sky condition in Algeria is overcast and based on this; the conceptual models of Algerian public schools are divided into two types of school buildings. Schools inherited from the colonial period and those built during the period of French occupation which are characterized by variation on the arrangements of classrooms even for a single school and are streamlined into; linear assembly with simple distribution (traditional classroom) which is common and the second type which has a linear assembly with double distribution. Based on the existing guideline from the Ministry of National Education which was adopted from the colonial masters. The simulation result confirm that class room typologies in Algeria had less consideration for climatic and comfort conditions and the window openings allowed excessive daylight

Architecture and Contextualism in Mosque Design as a Multi-faith and Community Friendly Place: -

The research aims to outline the design strategy for a mosque as a third place to promote an inclusive community friendly place. The research employs a qualitative case study methodology through observation and interview. The findings reveal that an inclusive mosque architecture can be enhanced based on the following design strategies: scale intimacy, ease of previewing, minimalist and adaptive building, space ambient, and impermanence landscaping character. Above all, the relationship between design, function, space and programming should be reestablished to infuse the mosque's inclusion for the benefit of all faiths, particularly the community. Keywords: Multifaith Communal Area; Mosque Design and Contextualism. eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6i18.297

Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Energy Efficiency Awareness in Gulf Countries

Energy efficiency in the built environment has been adopted through several initiatives depending on the context of implementation; this paper further assesses Building Information Modelling (BIM) as a toolkit designed to tackle energy-related concerns in buildings. The paper leverages energy efficiency program cases of the gulf countries’ level of BIM adoption. This case study design was qualitatively approached in which literature and authoritative contents were reviewed to ascertain the region’s adoption of the technology as a body Gulf Cooperation Council. (GCC) and independently as a country (member states). It was identified that only Saudi Arabia and the UAE have BIM tied to their energy efficiency programs, unlike other member states that have energy efficiency programs with little or no trace of BIM. The GCC management committee is therefore saddled with the responsibility of implementing BIM. Utilizing BIM for sustainability will lead to significant savings through a combination of accurate energy monitoring, immediate decision support systems, actuators, and consumption form recognition.Najran University - grant No. [NU/IFC/2/SERC/-/14]

Assessment on Accuracy of Design Science Research (DSR) Framework as a Daylighting Measurement Tool for Islamic Religious School

Daylight efficiency correlates to window design. Guidelines recommend a 20 per cent window-to-floor ratio (WFR) at 900mm windowsill height, where acceptable 300 lx to 500 lx measured at 900mm working plane height.  However, Islamic religious schools use a 300mm height table known as ‘rehal’. Studies neglect the difference in required working plane height that effect window design and the illuminance level. A study was established to propose Syaheeza’s Daylight Rule of Thumb (DRT) for Islamic religious schools. This paper aims to highlight the reliability of the methodology framework used in Syaheeza’s DRT, such as surveys, Arabic handwriting performance assessment and computer simulations. Keywords: Daylighting; Islamic religious school; methodology framework eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6i17.287

Empirical Validation of Daylight Simulation Tool for a Test Office with Anidolic Daylighting System

ABSTRACT The use of simulation tools to evaluate the daylighting performances of building design attracts enormous interest for architects, engineers and researchers. Integrated Environmental Solution <Virtual Environment> (IES<VE>) is a software tool to daylighting design and analysis. It intends to simulate daylight in buildings and to predict illuminance. The aim of this research is to validate the IES software simulated results and results measured of scale physical model with installed Anidolic Daylighting System (ADS) in a building under real condition in a tropical area. Scaled model was constructed to be tested under real sky measurement. In additional, the same model was designed in the IES<VE> for measuring illuminance. Using this software to study in the ADS, it can be found that absolute work plane illuminance in the intermediate and overcast sky recorded mean difference from the measured results, with 4.6% and 3.8% respectively also DF results illustrated promising results with 4.5% in the overcast sky. However in sunny sky is illustrated high mean difference with relative error 57%, while the trend of these results is approximately similar but the luminance ratio results shown acceptable mean measurement in sunny sky with 2.8%. The simulation results prove that inside illuminance can be modeled with comparable accuracy for ADS under real sky conditions in the intermediate and overcast sky. For future study, validation of other parameters can be carried out such as the size of the ADS, window sizes, environment setting

Assessment on Accuracy of Design Science Research (DSR) Frameworkas a Daylighting MeasurementTool for Islamic Religious School

Daylight efficiency correlates towindow design. Standards and guidelines recommended 20% window to floor ratio (WFR) at 800mm to 900mm windowsill height for classrooms, where it should provide the recommended illuminance level between 300 lx to 500 lx measured at workingplane height (WPH) between 800mm to 900mm. Instead, Islamic religious schools use ‘rehal’ at 300mm WPH. Since that the WPH is lower, the measured illuminance level is at different intensity. This paper assesses the accuracy of Design Science Research (DSR) methodology framework adaptation in measuring and designing daylight consideration in Islamic religious schools that uses lower working plane height

ACCEPTABLE ILLUMINANCE LEVEL ATTRIBUTES TO LEARNING SATISFACTION IN CLASSROOM

The importance of student’s satisfaction in school is to highlight the parameter that related to physical of buildings and learning area. Natural lighting is important to human where the daylight shall cause visual discomfort and performance in classrooms. Due to address the issue, the acceptable illuminance level is needing to be identified to increase performance in occupants’ satisfaction. Illuminance level in learning spaces should not be neglected where in the form of human values, comfort and culture are to be focused as a main criterion in student’s performance. Daylighting in an educational space can be improved in order to enhance the student’s performance and promotes a better health and performance due to suitable level of visual comfort. The aim of this study is to investigate the student’s performance in classroom with minimum performance zone in minimum Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR). The physical conditions; WWR of less than 25%, to 40% of typical of classroom and illuminance level that ranged from 300-400 lux were identified to be sufficient daylight level. Pilot studies have been conducted in typical classroom of KolejPermataInsan where the effects of acceptable illuminance level that contribute to visual performance is identified. Qualitative survey has been conducted on the student’s perception toward visual comfort and obtaining the comparison on performance from visual test. The illuminance level for the classroom was recorded using an LED data logger. Findings from the case study showed less than 20% openings in classrooms affect students minimum acceptable of illuminance level. There will significant contrast between internal luminance to external luminance if WWR is more than 70%. While the ideal WWR for classroom should be not more than 40% to achieve the optimum performance zone and acceptable illuminance level. The findings contribute towards the identification of an acceptable visual comfort ranges for students and design recommendations for optimum performance zone in a classroom in Malaysia

Illuminance Level Measurement at Lower Working Plane Height in Islamic Religious School

Islamic religious school is an institution that integrates Quran hafazan (memorization) in the curriculum. Between 2011 to 2017, estimated that 900 new Islamic religious schools were established in Malaysia due to high demands. Designing a classroom layout that receives sufficient daylight is important because it influences the students’ task performance such as reading and writing. The standards recommend that any classrooms require an illuminance level between 300 lx to 500 lx when measured at working plane height between 800mm to 900mm, although the working plane height of rehal used for hafazan is between 250mm to 300mm. This study focused on the illuminance level measured at rehal working plane height for Arabic handwriting as a hafazan learning task in two selected standardised classrooms at Kolej Genius Insan. The students were required to rewrite the modified Balsam Alabdulkader-Leat (BAL) Arabic eye chart, where the students’ Arabic handwriting performance were evaluated based on their word per minute (wpm) scores. Both classrooms’ average illuminance level were 507 lx to 603 lx, which were too high based on standards and guidelines. The average Arabic handwriting scores for both classrooms were 9.4 and 12.6 wpm, which shows that the inefficient average illuminance level has caused the students’ performance to be very low. It can be concluded that the existing standardised classroom layout design was not suitable for hafazan learning tasks at rehal working plane height. Thus, the classroom layout design for Islamic religious schools needed further studies, which implicated the unsatisfied built environment of the classrooms and the school education for Islamic religious schools in Malaysia

An innovative method for building electricity energy management in smart homes based on electric vehicle energy capacity

The surging demand for electricity, fueled by environmental concerns, economic considerations, and the integration of distributed energy resources, underscores the need for innovative approaches to smart home energy management. This research introduces a novel optimization algorithm that leverages electric vehicles (EVs) as integral components, addressing the intricate dynamics of household load management. The study’s significance lies in optimizing energy consumption, reducing costs, and enhancing power grid reliability. Three distinct modes of smart home load management are investigated, ranging from no household load management to load outages, with a focus on the time-of-use (ToU) tariff impact, inclining block rate (IBR) pricing, and the combined effect of ToU and IBR on load management outcomes. The algorithm, a multi-objective approach, minimizes the peak demand and optimizes cost factors, resulting in a 7.9% reduction in integrated payment costs. Notably, EVs play a pivotal role in load planning, showcasing a 16.4% reduction in peak loads and a 7.9% decrease in payment expenses. Numerical results affirm the algorithm’s adaptability, even under load interruptions, preventing excessive increases in paid costs. Incorporating dynamic pricing structures like inclining block rates alongside the time of use reveals a 7.9% reduction in payment costs and a 16.4% decrease in peak loads. In conclusion, this research provides a robust optimization framework for smart home energy management, demonstrating economic benefits, peak load reduction potential, and enhanced reliability through strategic EV integration and dynamic pricing