Thermal comfort assessment and potential for energy efficiency enhancement in modern tropical buildings: A review

The rapid growth in population and economy activities in the tropical countries has led to an increase in energy consumption which hastens the depletion of available energy resources. The building sector is one of the major end users of energy. On the other hand, the air conditioning system is viewed as an important tool to sustain and improve thermal comfort of occupants, but this system is often the biggest energy consumer in buildings. This has raised concerns on efficient use of the air conditioning system for reduction in energy cost. In order to identify the thermal comfort perception of occupants as well as energy conservation potentials in tropical buildings, various thermal comfort assessments were conducted which included field surveys and chamber studies. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the energy efficiency improvement potentials in air-conditioned tropical buildings by considering thermal comfort of occupants. Some of the studies conducted in the institutes of learning, offices and residential were reviewed and focus was placed on the thermal comfort studies that emphasis on balance between energy efficiency and thermal comfort. It was estimated that a reduction of 2150 GWh of energy demand annually in Malaysia can be achieved if the thermostat set-point is set higher by 2 °C, together with a reduction of 3 × 109 lbs (1.36 × 109 kg) of greenhouse gases. Besides, the use of computational simulation tools for prediction of thermal comfort and adaptive behaviour of people in the tropics towards their immediate thermal environment are also highlighted.

[1]  Gail Brager,et al.  Air movement preferences observed in office buildings , 2007, International journal of biometeorology.

[2]  Wang Liping,et al.  Applying Natural Ventilation for Thermal Comfort in Residential Buildings in Singapore , 2007 .

[3]  Z. Zain,et al.  Hot and humid climate: prospect for thermal comfort in residential building , 2007 .

[4]  M. A. Humphreys,et al.  A study of the thermal comfort of primary school children in summer , 1977 .

[5]  G. Evola,et al.  Computational analysis of wind driven natural ventilation in buildings , 2006 .

[6]  R. J. Dear,et al.  Thermal comfort in the humid tropics: Field experiments in air conditioned and naturally ventilated buildings in Singapore , 1991 .

[7]  D. A. McIntyre,et al.  Chamber studies—reductio ad absurdum? , 1982 .

[8]  K. F. Fong,et al.  Comparison of performances of displacement and mixing ventilations. Part I: thermal comfort , 2005 .

[9]  Joseph Virgone,et al.  Evaluation of thermal comfort using combined CFD and experimentation study in a test room equipped with a cooling ceiling , 2009 .

[10]  Joseph Khedari,et al.  Thermal comfort standards for air conditioned buildings in hot and humid Thailand considering additional factors of acclimatization and education level , 2005 .

[11]  Marco Filippi,et al.  Perception of the thermal environment in high school and university classrooms: Subjective preferences and thermal comfort , 2007 .

[12]  Susan Roaf,et al.  Pioneering new indoor temperature standards: the Pakistan project , 1996 .

[13]  Ruey Lung Hwang,et al.  Subjective responses and comfort reception in transitional spaces for guests versus staff , 2008 .

[14]  Sai On Cheung,et al.  An analysis of electricity end-use in air-conditioned office buildings in Hong Kong , 2003 .

[15]  Ana Paula Melo,et al.  THERMAL COMFORT ANALYSIS OF A NATURALLY VENTILATED BUILDING , 2011 .

[16]  P. Fanger.  Moderate Thermal Environments Determination of the PMV and PPD Indices and Specification of the Conditions for Thermal Comfort , 1984 .

[17]  Wei Yang,et al.  Thermal comfort in naturally ventilated and air-conditioned buildings in humid subtropical climate zone in China , 2008, International journal of biometeorology.

[18]  Wan Ki Chow,et al.  Numerical studies on the indoor air flow in the occupied zone of ventilated and air-conditioned space , 1996 .

[19]  Eusébio Z. E. Conceição,et al.  Application of a developed adaptive model in the evaluation of thermal comfort in ventilated kindergarten occupied spaces , 2012 .

[20]  Nor Mariah Adam,et al.  Ventilation Parameters and Thermal Comfort of Naturally and Mechanically Ventilated Offices , 2009 .

[21]  Nyuk Hien Wong,et al.  Thermal comfort in classrooms in the tropics , 2003 .

[22]  Kwang-Chul Noh,et al.  Thermal comfort and indoor air quality in the lecture room with 4-way cassette air-conditioner and mixing ventilation system , 2007 .

[23]  Guohui Gan,et al.  Predicting air flow and thermal comfort in offices , 1994 .

[24]  Joseph Khedari,et al.  Thailand ventilation comfort chart , 2000 .

[25]  Qi Jie Kwong,et al.  A review of energy efficiency potentials in tropical buildings – Perspective of enclosed common areas , 2011 .

[26]  K. Yang,et al.  AN APPROACH TO BUILDING ENERGY SAVINGS USING THE PMV INDEX , 1997 .

[27]  Alison Kwok,et al.  Addressing climate change in comfort standards , 2010 .

[28]  Nyuk Hien Wong,et al.  Thermal sensation responses in hot, humid climates: effects of humidity , 2006 .

[29]  Yuguo Li,et al.  Prediction of natural ventilation in buildings with large openings , 2000 .

[30]  Liwei Tian,et al.  Field study on occupants’ thermal comfort and residential thermal environment in a hot-humid climate of China , 2007 .

[31]  R. Dear,et al.  Thermal adaptation in the built environment: a literature review , 1998 .

[32]  K. Steemers,et al.  Thermal comfort and psychological adaptation as a guide for designing urban spaces , 2003 .

[33]  Ruey Lung Hwang,et al.  Field experiments on thermal comfort in campus classrooms in Taiwan , 2006 .

[34]  P. O. Fanger,et al.  Thermal comfort: analysis and applications in environmental engineering, , 1972 .

[35]  Standard Ashrae.  Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy , 1992 .

[36]  Kwok Wai Tham,et al.  Conserving energy without sacrificing thermal comfort , 1993 .

[37]  Adrian Pitts,et al.  Interpretation of thermal responses of four subject groups in transitional spaces of buildings in Bangkok , 2002 .

[38]  Madhavi Indraganti,et al.  Effect of age, gender, economic group and tenure on thermal comfort: A field study in residential buildings in hot and dry climate with seasonal variations , 2010 .

[39]  Tri Harso Karyono,et al.  Report on thermal comfort and building energy studies in Jakarta—Indonesia , 2000 .

[40]  S. C. Sekhar,et al.  Thermal comfort and IAQ characteristics of naturally/mechanically ventilated and air-conditioned bedrooms in a hot and humid climate , 2011 .

[41]  Chandra Sekhar,et al.  Thermal comfort evaluation of naturally ventilated public housing in Singapore , 2002 .

[42]  Luis Pérez-Lombard,et al.  A review on buildings energy consumption information , 2008 .

[43]  B. A. Habeebullah,et al.  Economic feasibility of thermal energy storage systems , 2007 .

[44]  Kamaruzzaman Sopian,et al.  Influences of Air Exchange Effectiveness and its Rate on Thermal Comfort: Naturally Ventilated Office , 2008 .

[45]  E Ery Djunaedy,et al.  Thermal comfort study of an air-conditioned lecture theatre in the tropics , 2003 .

[46]  Donatien Njomo,et al.  Thermal comfort: A review paper , 2010 .

[47]  Wen-Jun Zhang,et al.  A new method of determination of indoor temperature and relative humidity with consideration of human thermal comfort , 2009 .

[48]  Nor Mariah Adam,et al.  Perception of Thermal Comfort in the Enclosed Transitional Space of Tropical Buildings , 2011 .

[49]  L. Berglund,et al.  A standard predictive index of human response to the thermal environment , 1986 .

[50]  Anastasios I. Stamou,et al.  Evaluation of thermal comfort in galatsi arena of the olympics ?Athens 2004? using a CFD model , 2008 .

[51]  Miroslav Jicha,et al.  NUMERICAL MODELING OF THE INFLUENCE OF ANGLE ADJUSTMENT OF A/C DIFFUSER VANES ON THERMAL COMFORT IN A COMPUTER ROOM , 2001 .

[52]  Baizhan Li,et al.  Climatic Strategies of Indoor Thermal Environment for Residential Buildings in Yangtze River Region, China , 2011 .

[53]  Sam C. M. Hui.  SUSTAINABLE BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES FOR HOT AND HUMID CLIMATES , 2007 .

[54]  Arnaud G. Malan,et al.  HVAC control strategies to enhance comfort and minimise energy usage , 2001 .

[55]  Adrian Pitts,et al.  Building transition spaces, comfort and energy use , 2008 .

[56]  P. Fanger,et al.  Extension of the PMV model to non-air-conditioned buildings in warm climates , 2002 .

[57]  Joseph Khedari,et al.  Assessment of Thailand indoor set-point impact on energy consumption and environment , 2006 .

[58]  K. S. Kannan,et al.  Air flow and thermal comfort simulation studies of wind ventilated classrooms in Malaysia , 1996 .

[59]  K. Parsons.  The effects of gender, acclimation state, the opportunity to adjust clothing and physical disability on requirements for thermal comfort , 2002 .

[60]  C. G. Webb.  An Analysis of Some Observations of Thermal Comfort in an Equatorial Climate , 1959, British journal of industrial medicine.

[61]  Michael A. Humphreys,et al.  ADAPTIVE THERMAL COMFORT AND SUSTAINABLE THERMAL STANDARDS FOR BUILDINGS , 2002 .

[62]  Mtr Jayasinghe,et al.  Thermal comfort temperature range for factory workers in warm humid tropical climates , 2008 .

[63]  R. Yao,et al.  A theoretical adaptive model of thermal comfort – Adaptive Predicted Mean Vote (aPMV) , 2009 .

[64]  J. Busch.  A tale of two populations: thermal comfort in air-conditioned and naturally ventilated offices in Thailand , 1992 .

[65]  Ellis Fp,et al.  Thermal comfort in warm, humid atmospheres; observations in a warship in the tropics. , 1952 .

[66]  Adrian Pitts,et al.  Potential for energy saving in building transition spaces , 2007 .

[67]  Stuart Barlow,et al.  Occupant comfort in UK offices—How adaptive comfort theories might influence future low energy office refurbishment strategies , 2007 .

[68]  N. Wong,et al.  Thermal comfort for naturally ventilated houses in Indonesia , 2004 .

[69]  F. Mallick.  Thermal comfort and building design in the tropical climates , 1996 .

[70]  Gail Brager,et al.  Thermal comfort in naturally ventilated buildings: revisions to ASHRAE Standard 55 , 2002 .

[71]  Jian-Sheng Huang,et al.  Evaluation of cooling ceiling and mechanical ventilation systems on thermal comfort using CFD study in an office for subtropical region , 2012 .