CK Tang
CK Tang is a pioneer in energy efficiency and Green buildings in the tropics. He designed and completed almost all the low-energy building demonstration projects in Malaysia. CK has authored two books on energy efficiency in buildings for the tropical climate under the BSEEP project, and developed software to design energy-efficient buildings. Over the last two years, CK was appointed as a peer-review consultant to UN facilities. He has reviewed and proposed improvements to existing UN facilities for UNRWA, UNICEF, UNDP, WFP, UN Women, WHO, UNHCR and more, all over the world.
Net-zero Energy or Super-low Energy Buildings: A Business Case for Net-Zero in the Tropical Climate
Net-zero is possible today. It is both technically and financially feasible to build a net-zero low-rise in the tropics. In fact, it is financially very rewarding to build a net-zero building in the tropical climate today, as the energy efficiency that is required on a net-zero building will reduce the capital cost of the building to be lower than that of a conventional building, due to a significantly smaller air-conditioning system. In addition to this, the cost of renewable today is cheaper than oil and gas. Private companies are already offering to provide solar electricity to the Indian grid at USD0.034/kWh (RM 0.14/kWh), while making a profit. This is way cheaper than electricity from oil and gas. And yet, we are still designing and building conventional buildings. As 2030 is fast approaching, will we be able to get our act together fast enough to meet the climate change challenge for the building sector?