Effect of passive cooling on the indoor thermal quality of an institutional building in tropical savannah climate

Abstract

Passive cooling techniques and their application have become more dependable and are frequently used in regions with hot climate conditions. The foremost techniques adopted are building orientation which helps with spatial organisation of the building based on function, external environment and weather factors and the other is the use of shading devices integrated through design to the building or its immediate environment. The building under study holds a set of lecture rooms, offices and a commercial space is located in a tropical savannah climate region. This papers evaluates the effects of the passive cooling techniques adopted in the building on indoor thermal quality as perceived by the students and other users of the building, considering the high temperature in the region. The research identified how the orientation of the building reduced the surface of the building heated as a result of solar radiation and also how the longer sides of the building have windows facing the direction of the prevailing winds capturing the breeze for cross ventilation which in turn reduces the indoor temperature. Shading devices and trees are used to cover the longer sides of the building to deflect direct solar radiation hence reducing the glare and reflections that may disrupt activities in the lecture rooms. Questionnaires that were distributed and a physical survey of the building site are the main source for the research findings. It is imperative for more research work to be done in areas like this to reduce the energy use in buildings located in hot regions used for cooling. This would also encourage the reduction of green house gases coming from mechanized cooling devices which cost significantly high to run in these regions. © 2019 IJSTR.