Human comfort, urban climate change and energy use: assessing adaptation options for the rapidly growing tropical mega-cities

Rohinton Emmanuel*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The rapid urban growth in the tropics, while being a problem in itself, leads to urban climate changes which pose additional strains on urban energy supply and human comfort. Primary causes for such urban climate changes are amenable to design interventions: urban geometry (limited sky view), thermal properties of building surfaces, anthropogenic heat and air pollution. The net effect of urban climate changes super-imposed on regional changes in tropical cities is the increasing need for building cooling energy. The urban thermal stress on the already stressful tropical climate is making it nearly intolerable. This paper reports the thermal comfort and urban energy implications of a large-scale housing development in urban Sri Lanka, with the aid of building-and neighbourhood-scale model simulations. A cool thermal environment by built-form and layout manipulation is promoted as the preferred adaptation mechanism for high-density tropical cities. Building energy and thermal comfort implications are also explored.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSun, Wind and Architecture - The Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, PLEA 2007
PublisherNUS Press
Pages161-168
Number of pages8
ISBN (Print)9810594003, 9789810594008
Publication statusPublished - 2007
Event24th International conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture - Singapore, Singapore
Duration: 22 Nov 200724 Nov 2007

Publication series

NameSun, Wind and Architecture - The Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, PLEA 2007

Conference

Conference24th International conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture
Abbreviated titlePLEA 2007
Country/TerritorySingapore
CitySingapore
Period22/11/0724/11/07

Keywords

  • Heat island mitigation
  • Thermal comfort
  • Tropical climate
  • Urban heat island
  • Urban morphology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

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