Pathways for optimal provision of thermal comfort and sustainability of residential housing in hot and humid tropics of Australia: a critical review

Safarova, Shokhida, Halawa, Edward, Campbell, Andrew, Law, Lisa, and van Hoof, Joost (2018) Pathways for optimal provision of thermal comfort and sustainability of residential housing in hot and humid tropics of Australia: a critical review. Indoor and Built Environment, 27 (8). pp. 1022-1040.

[img] PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1420326X177018...
 
8
2


Abstract

The optimal provision of thermal comfort and energy efficiency for residential housing in the hot and humid tropics presents challenges and opportunities for housing and subdivision designs. Climatic challenges come in the form of high ambient temperature and humidity, especially during the wet season and transition periods. On the other hand, climatic advantages come in the form of breezes coupled with relatively dry air during the dry season, enabling thermal comfort attainment through natural ventilation that employs prevailing breezes. This paper discusses existing design practices for housing and subdivisions in the hot and humid tropics with particular reference to the city of Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory. This includes several research issues and gaps that have been identified and need to be addressed. The paper also critically assesses how air speed, air temperature and humidity – three of the thermal comfort parameters – play a key role in housing and subdivision design consideration in the hot and humid tropics. In doing so, the paper sheds light on the inadequacy of the current residential energy rating methodology as a tool for assessing tropical housing performance and proposes a new direction for future research to ameliorate these issues for the tropics.

Item ID: 49136
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1423-0070
Keywords: thermal comfort, urban design, building design, hot and humid tropics, residential energy rating
Funders: Defence Housing Australia (DHA), Investa Land and Power and Water Corporation (ILPWC)
Date Deposited: 08 Jun 2017 22:26
FoR Codes: 33 BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND DESIGN > 3304 Urban and regional planning > 330411 Urban design @ 100%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970112 Expanding Knowledge in Built Environment and Design @ 100%
Downloads: Total: 2
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page