Thermal Comfort Characteristics and Its Effects on Health Status of Occupants of Residential Building Typology in a Sub-Humid Tropical Climate

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This study examined the indoor thermal comfort characteristics and it implications for the health of the inhabitants in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, Nigeria. The study used the experimental and survey research designs to gather primary data of temperature (dry and wet bulb), and perception of the inhabitants regarding thermal conditions in the study area. The effective temperature equation was used to determine the thermal comfort characteristics of the residential buildings in the study area, while the analysis of variance (ANOVA) model was used to determine the spatial variation in thermal comfort characteristics across the different land uses in the study area. The findings of the study include: the thermal comfort characteristics for the study area ranged between 27.3 ET & 29.08 ET at the dry period and at wet period 25.6 ET and 27.10 ET. The ANOVA model was significant at P < 0.05 (F-118.23, sig-0.00), indicating that there is a significant difference in the thermal comfort characteristics in the study area. The Duncan statistics however, revealed that, the GRA is the coolest when it comes to effective temperature. Furthermore, the respondents identified that; the period of discomfort is mostly afternoon (37.3%) and Nights (35.1%). Health problems as a result of poor thermal conditions include skin rashes (59.8%), heat cramps (26.4%), prickly heat (42%) and heat exhaustion (51.3%). As a result of the findings the study strongly advocates, building residential buildings with several openings and locating such openings in recognition of the wind direction.