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Assessment of Thermal Comfort in Naturally Ventilated Buildings

Abstract

Thermal comfort is an important aspect of building performance because it influences the health, well-being, productivity, and satisfaction of occupants. In warm and tropical climates, maintaining comfortable indoor conditions can require significant amounts of energy when mechanical cooling systems are used. Naturally ventilated buildings provide an alternative approach by using outdoor air movement and building design to regulate indoor temperatures. Assessing thermal comfort in such buildings is therefore important for understanding the effectiveness of natural ventilation and improving the design of comfortable and energy-efficient spaces. This study assesses thermal comfort in naturally ventilated buildings, with particular attention to indoor environmental conditions and occupant responses. Thermal comfort is influenced by environmental factors such as air temperature, mean radiant temperature, relative humidity, and air velocity, as well as personal factors including clothing and metabolic activity. The interaction of these factors determines how occupants perceive their indoor environment. Understanding these relationships can support the development of buildings that provide acceptable thermal conditions without excessive reliance on mechanical cooling. Natural ventilation plays an important role in regulating indoor thermal conditions. Openings such as windows, doors, vents, and louvers allow outdoor air to enter buildings and remove accumulated indoor heat. Cross-ventilation and single-sided ventilation can improve air movement depending on building layout, opening arrangement, prevailing wind conditions, and temperature differences. The effectiveness of natural ventilation is influenced by building orientation, window size and position, surrounding structures, and local climatic conditions. Building design characteristics also have a significant effect on thermal comfort. Appropriate orientation, shading devices, roof design, thermal insulation, building materials, and window-to-wall ratios can reduce unwanted heat gain and improve indoor conditions. Vegetation and surrounding landscape can also influence the microclimate around naturally ventilated buildings. Combining these passive design strategies with effective natural ventilation can help maintain acceptable indoor temperatures and reduce cooling energy requirements. Although natural ventilation can provide significant benefits, maintaining thermal comfort may be challenging during periods of high outdoor temperature and humidity. Occupant behaviour, window-opening patterns, clothing, activity levels, and individual preferences can also influence thermal comfort perceptions. Therefore, thermal comfort assessment should consider both measured environmental conditions and occupant responses. Regular monitoring of indoor conditions can help identify areas where building design or ventilation strategies may need improvement. This study assesses thermal comfort in naturally ventilated buildings by examining indoor temperature, relative humidity, air movement, ventilation conditions, and occupant perceptions. The study is expected to identify factors that influence thermal comfort and determine how effectively natural ventilation contributes to acceptable indoor environmental conditions. The findings will provide useful information for architects, engineers, building designers, facility managers, and other stakeholders seeking to develop comfortable and energy-efficient buildings. The study may also contribute to the wider application of passive and climate-responsive design strategies in warm and tropical environments.

Keywords: Thermal comfort, Natural ventilation, Indoor environmental quality, Air temperature, Relative humidity, Air velocity, Passive design, Building performance, Occupant comfort, Cross-ventilation, Building orientation, Solar shading, Energy efficiency, Tropical buildings.