Optimization of Thermal Comfort in Sri Lankan Residential Buildings

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the thermal comfort state in residential buildings in Sri Lanka and to study the possibility of getting them into the comfort zone without air conditioning. Located near the equator, Sri Lanka has a tropical climate with high temperature and relative humidity level. Therefore, the need of having a thermally comfortable living environment is a must in these conditions. A case study approach has been made in this study to evaluate the research problem. The selected 14 case study houses were optimized using "Design Builder", energy simulation software. The evaluation results highlight that the comfort level of the houses can be improved using mud concrete blocks as the external wall material and clay tiles as roofing. The optimization results further indicate that thermal comfort level of the residential buildings in Sri Lanka can be achieved without using air conditioning if designed properly.