IS IT NECESSARY TO COOL RESIDENTIAL HOMES? A BIOCLIMATIC ANALYSIS OF WINDOW POSITION AND SIZES ON INDOOR COMFORT IN THE TROPICS

Abstract

Within the tropics, cooling is inevitable during certain times of the year. This is as a result of the intense solar radiation that hits the interiors of our spaces due to unsustainable design practices. A number of researchers are of the view that the tropical regions are the hardest to ameliorate through design due to the harsh weather conditions. With this situation, occupants are likely to use air conditioners in achieving comfortable indoor environment in tropical climates. The current paper describes an investigation into the effect of window sizes (varied wall-to window –ratio) and it’s positioning bio-climatically to determine which strategy could provide a better indoor environment for residential buildings in Ghana. A typical room of 3m x 4m was parametrically simulated using the Tas tool. Various window sizes with diverse WWR were then probed into with varying positions (low, middle and high) after the temperature and humidity values were plotted on the bioclimatic to determine which the air velocity that could be employed to provide comfort spaces for occupants. The results show that as the window sizes increases, the amount of air needed to provide comfort also increases. This increase in air velocity also results in several subjective feelings like irritation and annoyance. It is therefore advisable for residential buildings within the tropics to keep the WWR to the barest minimum as possible.