Pathways for optimal provision of thermal comfort and sustainability of residential housing in hot and humid tropics of Australia – A critical review

Abstract

The optimal provision of thermal comfort and energy efficiency for residential housing in the hot and humid tropics presents challenges and opportunities for housing and subdivision designs. Climatic challenges come in the form of high ambient temperature and humidity, especially during the wet season and transition periods. On the other hand, climatic advantages come in the form of breezes coupled with relatively dry air during the dry season, enabling thermal comfort attainment through natural ventilation that employs prevailing breezes. This paper discusses existing design practices for housing and subdivisions in the hot and humid tropics with particular reference to the city of Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory. This includes several research issues and gaps that have been identified and need to be addressed. The paper also critically assesses how air speed, air temperature and humidity – three of the thermal comfort parameters – play a key role in housing and subdivision design consideration in the hot and humid tropics. In doing so, the paper sheds light on the inadequacy of the current residential energy rating methodology as a tool for assessing tropical housing performance and proposes a new direction for future research to ameliorate these issues for the tropics.

Towards a Tropical Urbanism for Cairns, Australia

“…New subdivision developments in Cairns tend to have little climate responsive and sensitive design elements and template-style estates on small lots with few breezeways have led to year-round air conditioning and mounting costs/energy demands for the region (Law, 2019;; Law et al, 2021). Indeed, climateneutral building is a key factor in reducing the need for tropical design and demotes sustainable practices in the process (Tay, 2001;; Le Roux, 2003;; Bay & Ong, 2007;; Winter, 2011;; Safarova et al, 2018). Precedents for climate-informed planning for the Tropics can be gleaned from the contrasting cold-temperate Winter City movement.…”

Dehumidification Potential of a Solid Desiccant Based Evaporative Cooling System with an Enthalpy Exchanger Operating in Subtropical and Tropical Climates

“…Brisbane (and Queensland in general) has a climate with "relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year" (i.e., subtype Cfa-humid subtropical according to Köppen Climate classification) [22]. Townsville is in the north eastern coast of Queensland; it has a tropical climate with a hot and humid summer but with relatively low rainfall compared with other tropical cities [23]. Darwin has a tropical wet and dry or savannah climate (Aw in the Köppen-Geiger climate classification) [24,25].…”

“…. Townsville is in the north eastern coast of Queensland; it has a tropical climate with a hot and humid summer but with relatively low rainfall compared with other tropical cities [23]. Darwin has a tropical wet and dry or savannah climate (Aw in the Köppen-Geiger climate classification) [24,25].…”

The tropical backyard: performing environmental difference

“…Australia's tropical zone has a unique climate, with dominant rainy and dry seasons. These characteristics have implications for architecture and for the physical layout and plantings of gardens, and also produce a more porous boundary between indoor and outdoor spaces (Anderson & Law, ; Law et al ., in press; Safarova et al ., , ). Moreover, while most migrants to tropical Cairns emphasised the idyll of tropical climate, many also struggled to come to terms with the heat; with new wildlife (such as snakes and the dengue fever mosquito Aedes aegypti ); and with what was required to create their “ideal” backyards, especially given dramatic seasonal variation and the temperate bias shown by garden retailers and in house‐and‐garden magazines.…”