Analysing indoor thermal comfort in LIG housing with respect building materials and openings, a case of Trivandrum

Abstract

In India, population growth, demand for housing, and rapid urbanisation have led to higher energy consumption in the building sector. According to the Government of India report, 80% of the buildings that will exist by 2050 are yet to be constructed and a larger percentage is contributed by the housing sector, the population using affordable housing is higher compared to other developed countries. The occupants tend to achieve the desired level of thermal comfort by personal adjustments and mechanical means. Using energy-intensive methods for comfort is not feasible for a country, like India, with a low-energy economy. This study analyses indoor thermal comfort in low income group housing with respect to the building materials and openings used. Two typologies of low income housing were identified - a row housing constructed using conventional materials and a vertical stacking multi-dwelling constructed using Laurie Baker’s sustainable construction technology. The first section of the study explores the current scenario of housing based on a thermal comfort field study to understand the current scenario by questionnaire survey and onsite measurements (following ASHRAE class II protocol) and a detailed analysis of the results from the computed data. The second part of the study is software simulation of the existing case with different approaches to improve thermal comfort using design builder simulation. And analysing the results to understand the improvement in indoor thermal comfort with respect to the existing model. From the results, it can be concluded that building material with higher thermal mass can cause a significant reduction in indoor temperatures and PMV thus improving indoor thermal comfort. Passive design strategies to improve indoor thermal comfort with respect to envelope material and openings for future projects at the study area under the low-income housing category, without breaking the concern of cost-effectiveness in affordability, are developed.