Adaptive thermal comfort and climate responsive building design strategies in dry–hot and dry–cold areas: Case study in Turpan, China

Abstract

Recently, the construction of energy efficiency buildings has been one of the main objectives of sustainable development, especially for areas with extreme climate. In present study, the adaptive thermal comfort and climate responsive strategies in dry–hot and dry–cold areas were investigated with field measurement and questionnaire in the Turpan basin, China. First, the adaptive thermal comfort model was established to reveal the relationship between indoor thermal comfort conditions and outdoor climate. Then, the climate responsive strategies which helped residents adapt to harsh climate were concluded. The prototype of climate responsive dwellings is proposed. Finally, the effects of these strategies were investigated by field measurement of indoor thermal environment in two demonstration houses and evaluated by the proposed thermal comfort model. The results showed that residents in the Turpan basin exhibited better adaptability to the hot climate than the cold climate with the upper limits of 80% acceptability reaching 34 °C. The heavy structure envelope and constructional patterns based on the thermal adaptive behaviors of residents could improve indoor thermal environment. In summer, semi-basement was the most effective strategy to satisfy human thermal comfort, followed by night ventilation. The indoor air temperature in semi-basement was around 31 °C while outdoor temperature exhibited diurnal variation of 15.7 °C from 28.6 °C to 44.3 °C. In winter, passive solar heating and semi-basement were both effective. The indoor air temperature was higher in the bedroom located at the south semi-basement compared with other rooms. The study can provide new thoughts for designing climate friendly buildings in dry-hot and dry-cold areas.