Recycling Waste to Improve Thermal Comfort in High-Altitude Village of East Sikkim

Abstract

This article proposes an open design process to improve thermal comfort in high altitude villages in East Sikkim, India. In order to enhance the internal thermal comfort of the inhabitants and to reduce the high annual heating energy consumption of the existing dwellings, design of the building envelope using locally recycled waste materials has been proposed. The fieldwork involved measuring the internal temperatures of two houses in order to arrive at a comparative analysis to diagnose the problems. This was then followed by the occupants ’interviews in an attempt to understand their thermal preferences and adaptive behaviours. These data have been used as base case in thermal analysis software (EDSL TAS) to simulate the reduction in annual energy consumption through various interventions in the building envelope. Design solutions using local recycled waste were then proposed to improve thermal comfort. The design process that was adopted included innovative methods to engage and involve the community in the whole exercise, thus giving them a sense of ownership.