Energizing Kowloon East Office
122 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Envelope system
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Reduce cooling demand by optimizing window to wall ratio. (Physiological: avoid excessive solar penetration.).
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Perforated walls on the southeast side with corresponding windows in the opposite wall encourage natural ventilation and cooling breezes to flow through the office.
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Decrease cooling load via insulate envelope using rock wool. (Physiological: keep the indoor air temperature at a comfortable level.)
Thermal
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Qualitative spatial diagnostics
Interior system
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Conduct function zoning according to different use and thermal comfort requirements.
Mechanical & Electrical system
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Adopting efficient lighting and HAVC system to reduce internal heat gains. (Physiological)
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EKEO building’s air-cooled variable refrigerant volume air conditioners allow users’ individual control of cooling needs at an efficiency comparable to a state-of-the-art centralized unit.
Landscape
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Planting trees and grasses in the site to regulate microclimate (e.g. cool down air temperature).
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Locating by the sea, the building has excellent pre-condition of natural sea breeze to maintain a comfortable temperature and humidity level.
External
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Maximize site features use to significantly reduce solar heat gain from southwest. As a natural barrier, Kwun Ting Bypass covers 80% area of the building roof, thus, even though the office is built with containers, the indoor air temperature is quite suitable for the staff and visitors. (Economic: Utilize site features to maximize cooling load and save significant energy in torridity summer.)
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Quantitative spatial diagnostics
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Control window to wall ratio < 20%.
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U-value of wall: 0.83 vs BEAM Plus Baseline 3.7, i.e. 78% reduction in thermal transmission.
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High efficiency HVAC system: variable refrigerant Volume (VRV) units with higher COP (>4.0) instead of window/ split type air-conditioners (≤3.0), i.e. >33% increase in energy efficiency.
* Image source: official website of EKEO and CCED
Optimum window/wall ratio
Rock wool
VAV units
Aerial view
Office under cover of Kwun Tong Bypass
* Images source: official website of EKEO