Abstract
Indoor thermal comfort is an essential aspect of sustainable architecture and it is critical in maintaining a safe indoor environment. Expectations, acceptability, and preferences of traditional and modern buildings are different in terms of thermal comfort. This study, therefore, attempts to evaluate the indoor thermal comforts of modern and traditional buildings and identify the contributing factors that impede or facilitate indoor thermal comfort in Semera city, Ethiopia. This study employed subjective and objective measurements. The subjective measurement is based on the ASHRAE seven-point thermal sensation scale. An adaptive comfort model was employed according to the ASHRAE standard to evaluate indoor thermal comfort. The results revealed that with regards to thermal sensational votes between −1 and +1, 88% of the respondents are satisfied with the indoor environment in traditional houses, while in modern houses this figure is 22%. Likewise, 83% of occupants in traditional houses expressed a preference for their homes to remain the same or be only slightly cooler or warmer. Traditional houses were, on average, in compliance with the 80% acceptability band of the adaptive comfort standard. The study investigated that traditional building techniques and materials, in combination with consideration of microclimate, were found to play a significant role in regulating the indoor environment.
Highlights
Accepted: 11 July 2021People spend up to 90% of their time inside buildings, so the quality of their indoor environments has a significant impact on their quality of life [1]
For the month of February, relative humidity (RH) data was monitored, and the results showed that condominium houses were outside of the ASHRAE thermal comfort range (30 RH–60 RH), except in 05 February, while the readings lower 80% acceptability limits for both the traditional and modern houses
(RH) data data was was monitored, monitored, and and the the results showed that condominium houses were outside of the thermal comfort results showed that condominium houses were outside of the ASHRAE thermal comfort range
Summary
Accepted: 11 July 2021People spend up to 90% of their time inside buildings, so the quality of their indoor environments has a significant impact on their quality of life [1]. Buildings should consider the bioclimatic condition of the location where they are constructed in order to improve the living standards of their occupants [2,3]. According to a study conducted by Akande & Adebamowo [4], the term bioclimatic refers to the designing of buildings based on the context of the local climate in order to provide the optimum thermal comfort of the place. According to ASHRAE [5], the indoor thermal condition in a building is acceptable when 80% of the building occupants are satisfied and comfortable within it. The study undertaken by Fanger [8] reveled that thermal comfort is determined by thermal environments, personal factors, and other contributing factors.
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