This study was conducted in Date Palm Technology Company Limited, Shambat, Khartoum State. To evaluate performance of three types of evaporative cooling pads for greenhouses (celdek pads, straw pads and sliced wood pads), as compared to the conditions outside the greenhouses (control), for pads. Performance evaluation includes environmental parameters (temperature and relative humidity at 8 am, 1 pm and 6 pm) and crop parameters (length and stem diameter, leaves number and width, fruit length and diameter, fruit weight and dry matter and yield). The results obtained for the temperature at 8 am showed that there was no significant difference (0.05) inside the greenhouses, while a high significant difference between the conditions inside and outside of the greenhouses was found. Significant differences were found at 1 pm and 6 pm between all treatments as compared to the conditions outside the greenhouses, and the results obtained for relative humidity showed high significant differences at 8 am and 1 pm inside the greenhouses and between inside and outside the greenhouse, respectively, while there was no significant difference at 6 pm inside the greenhouses and between inside and outside the greenhouses. On the other hand, the results obtained for crop parameters showed that there were significant differences between all parameters inside the greenhouses and outside the greenhouses; however, the greenhouses with sliced wood pads gave the highest yield and the greenhouses with straw pads gave the least and conditions outside gave the lowest. This study indicated that the sliced wood pads are better than the other evaporative cooling pads.

Universities are designed for higher education learning, and improving university indoor air quality (IAQ) is essential to the enhanced performances of students and staff members alike. The majority of IAQ problems are due to inadequate ventilation in university buildings. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) measurements have become a commonly used screening test of IAQ because measurement levels can be used to evaluate the amount of ventilation and general comfort. This paper examines CO2 field measurement for undergraduate practical classes. Ten air conditioned laboratories with ventilation were chosen for CO2 field measurement. CO2 was monitored under indoor and outdoor conditions. Indoor CO2 concentration for Laboratories 1 and 10 is observed to be higher than 1000ppm which indicated inadequate ventilation, while other laboratories showed CO2 concentrations less than 1000ppm. Air capacity and outdoor air were calculated based on the design documentation. A comparison between design and actual outdoor air/person values indicates that the air conditioning systems of the laboratories had adequate ventilation

Fibre optic daylighting systems are a developing technology that offers solutions to daylighting designers. However, these systems are rarely used in the tropics because of the variable illumination provided by the sky, which changes with latitude, time of day, and seasons. This study examines the illumination levels obtained using a fibre optic daylighting system under various tropical climate conditions in Malaysia. A Parans SP3 fibre optic daylighting system with 10-m cable was used on a full-scale test bed model in Universiti Sains Malaysia as an empirical approach. The following results were obtained: (i) on sunny days with intermediate blue sky, the system worked at 79% and reached a maximum of 725 lx, an average of 457 lx, and a minimum of 98 lx; (ii) on moderately sunny days with intermediate mean sky, the system worked at 48.5% and reached a maximum 685 lx, an average of 439 lx, and a minimum of 80 lx; (iii) under overcast skies, the system worked at 37.5% and reached a maximum of 538 lx, an average of 305 lx, and a minimum of 41 lx. These findings provide benchmarking directions for the application of fibre optic daylighting systems in Malaysia.

A fiber optic daylighting system is an evolving technology for transporting illumination from sunlight into building interiors. This system is a solution developed by daylighting designers to reduce operational costs and enhance comfort. As an innovative technology, fiber optic daylighting systems can illuminate building interiors efficiently compared with other daylighting strategies. However, as a transmission medium in daylighting systems, optical fibers require uniform light distribution in sunlight concentration, which could generate heat. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of heat buildup produced by end-emitting fiber optic daylighting systems in tropical buildings. The applied method adopts a new fiber optic daylighting system technology from Sweden called Parans SP3, with a 10 m cable to be tested in an actual room size under the Malaysian climatic environment, particularly within the vicinity of the main campus of the Universiti Sains Malaysia. Results show that the system generated a temperature of 1.3 °C under average conditions through fiber optic diffusers and increases indoor temperature by 0.8 °C in a 60 m³ room. According to the results, applying fiber optic daylighting systems, as renewable energy sources, generates extra heat gain in building interiors in the tropics.

As a developing country, Malaysia requires innovation to keep abreast of the rapid growth of technology to meet the highly demanding energy consumption. The application of daylighting systems especially by fibre optics is very limited, due to the absence of relevant knowledge and the lack of understanding of the system requirements and potentials, particularly the technology of illuminating enclosed spaces which are totally surrounded by internal walls (opaque). Thus, the aim of this literature review is to shed light on this new approach and to help the building technologists activate its application in building interiors. This paper presents and summarises the important technical issues that enhance the adoption of this technique for the Malaysian built environment.

Mould growth is the phenomena which can cause Sick Building Syndrome such as the health problem, damage to building materials, books, clothes, and stored foods. This paper presents a study of mould growth in tropical climates buildings for the basis of a comprehensive study and the causes of mould growth in various materials. Mould growth can occur from water damage, condensation, leaks, or even the mere presence of high humidity. Objectives of this study are identifies the mould growth in building and its effect to the building especially in Malaysia. It also identify the causes of it growth at certain element, material and design which is exposed to mould growth. Two different case studies have been conducted to show the mould growth problem in building. This paper has gained an insight into a better understanding of factors of mould growth of indoor building. The condition survey method was conducted to this investigation of dampness. It also highlights the important problems for tropical climates building and suggested a possible remedial work to the building owner and building maintenance management to prevent the mould growth in building.