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Improving Thermal Comfort of Low-Income Housing in Thailand through Passive Design Strategies

Author

Listed:
  • Nafisa Bhikhoo

    (Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK)

  • Arman Hashemi

    (School of Environment and Technology, University of Brighton, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK
    Centre for Sustainable Development, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK)

  • Heather Cruickshank

    (Centre for Sustainable Development, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK)

Abstract

In Thailand, the delivery of adequate low-income housing has historically been overshadowed by politics with cost and quantity being prioritised over quality, comfort and resilience. In a country that experiences hot and humid temperatures throughout the year, buildings need to be adaptable to the climate to improve the thermal comfort of inhabitants. This research is focused on identifying areas for improving the thermal performance of these housing designs. Firstly, dynamic thermal simulations were run on a baseline model using the adaptive thermal comfort model CIBSE TM52 for assessment. The three criteria defined in CIBSE TM52 were used to assess the frequency and severity of overheating in the buildings. The internal temperature of the apartments was shown to exceed the thermal comfort threshold for these criteria throughout the year. The internal operating daily temperatures of the apartment remain high, ranging from a maximum of 38.5 °C to a minimum of 27.3 °C. Based on these findings, five criteria were selected to be analysed for sensitivity to obtain the key parameters that influence the thermal performance and to suggest possible areas for improvement. The computer software package Integrated Environmental Solutions—Virtual Environment (IES-VE) was used to perform building energy simulations. Once the baseline conditions were identified, the software packages SimLab2.2 and RStudio were used to carry out the sensitivity analysis. These results indicated that roof material and the presence of a balcony have the greatest influence on the system. Incorporating insulation into the roof reduced the mean number of days of overheating by 21.43%. Removing the balcony increased the number of days of overheating by 19.94% due to significant reductions in internal ventilation.

Suggested Citation

  • Nafisa Bhikhoo & Arman Hashemi & Heather Cruickshank, 2017. "Improving Thermal Comfort of Low-Income Housing in Thailand through Passive Design Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-23, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:8:p:1440-:d:108390
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Arman Hashemi, 2016. "Climate Resilient Low-Income Tropical Housing," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-15, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Catarina Ribeiro & Nuno M. M. Ramos & Inês Flores-Colen, 2020. "A Review of Balcony Impacts on the Indoor Environmental Quality of Dwellings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-19, August.
    2. Bienvenido-Huertas, David & Sánchez-García, Daniel & Rubio-Bellido, Carlos, 2020. "Comparison of energy conservation measures considering adaptive thermal comfort and climate change in existing Mediterranean dwellings," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    3. Krašna, Marjan & Klemenčič, Eva & Kutnjak, Zdravko & Kralj, Samo, 2018. "Phase-changing materials for thermal stabilization and thermal transport," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 554-563.
    4. Luis Godoy-Vaca & E. Catalina Vallejo-Coral & Javier Martínez-Gómez & Marco Orozco & Geovanna Villacreses, 2021. "Predicted Medium Vote Thermal Comfort Analysis Applying Energy Simulations with Phase Change Materials for Very Hot-Humid Climates in Social Housing in Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-31, January.
    5. Ana Paola Vargas & Leon Hamui, 2021. "Thermal Energy Performance Simulation of a Residential Building Retrofitted with Passive Design Strategies: A Case Study in Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-21, July.
    6. Edward Halawa & Frank Bruno, 2023. "Energy Performance and Thermal Comfort Delivery Capabilities of Solid-Desiccant Rotor-Based Air-Conditioning for Warm to Hot and Humid Climates—A Critical Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-17, August.
    7. Waqas Ahmed Mahar & Griet Verbeeck & Manoj Kumar Singh & Shady Attia, 2019. "An Investigation of Thermal Comfort of Houses in Dry and Semi-Arid Climates of Quetta, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-21, September.
    8. Muhammad Suleman Bacha & Muhammad Muhammad & Zeyneb Kılıç & Muhammad Nafees, 2021. "The Dynamics of Public Perceptions and Climate Change in Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-22, April.
    9. Balali, Amirhossein & Yunusa-Kaltungo, Akilu & Edwards, Rodger, 2023. "A systematic review of passive energy consumption optimisation strategy selection for buildings through multiple criteria decision-making techniques," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).

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