Developing smart grid enabler for housing component parameter framework towards energy conservation in Malaysia

Modern Malaysians' energy-intensive lifestyles contribute significantly to energy consumption, with households accounting for 21% of national electricity use. Environmental concerns, evolving lifestyles, and the rise of renewable energy have driven the global shift from conventional electricity systems to smart grids. Since 2020, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) has deployed smart meters nationwide, driving the shift to a Smart Grid system. Aligning housing components with this system is key to enhancing energy efficiency and benefiting Malaysia's energy and housing sectors. The Malaysian smart grid's relatively new implementation reveals gap in integrating housing components, exposing a knowledge shortfall in a potential energy conservation strategy for households. This warrants further investigation identifying probable links between the system and the housing sector. Thus, this research examines suitable housing components for the smart grid system to establish a Smart Grid Enabler-House Component Parameter framework, consisting of components from the smart grid system and housing units. Also, three models were studied: Trias Energetica, Smart Grid Conceptual Model and Smart Grid Optimised Building. Utilising pragmatism approach, a sequential exploratory mixed method process is adopted to achieve this research’s aim. It is supported by three objectives; identify the significant smart grid components applicable to the housing sector in Malaysia towards achieving energy conservation, analyse the significant enablers of Smart Grid that could utilise suitable housing components for future residential development in Malaysia towards achieving energy conservation and propose Smart Grid Enabler (SGE) for Housing Component Parameter (HCP) Framework in Malaysia towards achieving energy conservation. This research process involves three phases of Phase 1 (preliminary study), Phase 2 (data collection), Phase 3 (data analysis) and Phase 4 (result and findings). Mixed method approach for this research process includes extensive literature review, thematic and content analysis, survey research through questionnaires, case study, observation and Fuzzy Delphi Method. Expert consensus attained via Fuzzy Delphi Method verifies the findings of the research, establishing the SGE – HCP framework. The framework demonstrates the achievement of Research Objective 1 (RO1) by highlighting the components of the Smart Grid Enabler (SGE), categorized into two segments: outdoor and indoor. It identifies 11 outdoor housing components and 8 passive indoor components, along with 1 active indoor component, addressing Research Objective 2 (RO2). For Research Objective 3 (RO3), the framework integrates the SGE and HCP components, applying the Trias Energetica model to develop strategies for energy conservation. Overall, the findings of this research are vital for stakeholders in residential development, serving as a supplementary reference for future policy changes or enhancements to current practices. Specifically, it aims to support the development of sustainable homes for the future. Proposed framework may guide relevant ministries, government agencies, designers, builders, and homeowners to construct energy conserving homes linked to the smart grid system for the future housing stock.