Design Construction and Analysis of Solar Passive Architecture incorporated Modern Residential Building for Thermal Comfort in warm Humid climate

Abstract

newline Solar passive architecture concepts and principles are used in traditional buildings newlineworldwide. Thermal performances of such traditional buildings are well within the newlinecomfortable range as prescribed by thermal comfort standards. But in most of the newlinecontemporary buildings, the indoor environmental conditions and thermal comfort are newlineunsatisfactory due to improper design. To reinforce the study, a Questionnaire survey was newlineconducted among 244 occupants of traditional and modern houses of the region to assess newlinethe thermal comfort. The findings of the survey also revealed the traditional houses are newlinemore comfortable than modern houses. Qualitative analysis of the traditional and modern newlinehouses of the region is carried out to study the solar passive features incorporated in the newlinetraditional buildings and that lacks in modern construction. newlineThe aim of the research work is to design and construct a modern residential building newlinewith available modern building materials in warm and humid climate of Thanjavur with newlinesolar passive architecture concepts that can make the building thermally comfortable newlinelike traditional buildings. newlineThe above research is achieved by the following objectives: newlineand#61623; To determine the effect of various thermal comfort parameters like temperature, newlinehumidity and air movement among the occupants of traditional and modern newlinebuildings in Thanjavur region by questionnaire survey. newlineand#61623; To design and construct a modern residential building in warm and humid climate newlineof Thanjavur with solar passive architecture concepts that can make the building newlinethermally comfortable like traditional buildings. newlineand#61623; To investigate the thermal comfort in the newly constructed solar passive newlineresidential buildings by determining the following parameters - indoor and newlineoutdoor temperature, indoor and outdoor relative humidity, solar insolation, air newlineflow inside the building and globe temperature (tg). newlineand#61623; To assess the thermal comfort zone of the designed building using bio-climatic newlinechart analysis tool and to determine Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and Predicted newlinex newlinePercentage Dissatisfied (PPD) of the designed building using CBE Berkeley newlineThermal comfort tool. newlineand#61623; To compare the performance of the newly designed solar passive modern building newlinewith other modern and traditional buildings of the region to resolve thermal newlineefficiency of the building. newlineand#61623; To perform statistical analysis and determine regression equation for indoor newlinetemperature. newlineand#61623; To arrive on design recommendations suitable for Thanjavur region. newlineTen solar passive architecture strategies have been incorporated in the designed building newlinewhich include orientation and planning, courtyard design, light coloured painting, white newlineroofing tiles, shading elements, solar chimney and sky light, cross ventilation, newlinelandscaping, roof level ventilators and high ceiling roof . newlineThermal performance of the constructed house is studied for a period of 12 months. newlineStatistical analysis is carried out using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) newlineand a linear regression equation suitable for Thanjavur is arrived based on the study. newlineThermal performance analysis of the designed building is compared with other modern newlinebuildings and traditional buildings in the region for the peak summer period. The study newlineon designed solar passive house indicates that solar passive techniques can bring indoor newlinetemperatures down enough for comfortable indoor environment to the occupants. It is newlineobserved that the temperature of the designed solar passive building is 2ºC to 3ºC cooler newlinein summer in comparison with the other modern buildings. It is evident from the study newlinethat design of building plays a major role to save energy which in turn will have an impact on national and global economy.