Wind Environment Evaluation of Neighborhood Areas in Major Towns of Malaysia

Abstract This paper discusses planning methods of neighborhood residential areas in Malaysia, focusing on the effect of wind flow. This study aims to determine strategies that reduce energy consumption at the neighborhood scale, targeting especially a reduction in the use of air-conditioners. For naturally ventilated buildings, the wind flow around the structure strongly affects the air change rates within the building. This paper presents the evaluations of the wind environment in selected case study areas, under the respective climatic conditions in major Malaysian towns. The evaluations in towns on the west coast and inland of Peninsular Malaysia showed results that, the majority of terraced house cases did not meet the required criteria, under the respective local climatic conditions. This was mainly due to the weak wind conditions in these towns. It was considered that the location of towns was a key factor in determining such weak wind conditions. High-rise housing was suggested as an effective means of utilizing stronger winds at elevated floor levels in urban Malaysia.