Window opening area for thermal comfort performance in the wet tropical region of Cameroon

Abstract

The present study investigates how building design, particularly window opening design, can be used to better improve the thermal comfort of occupants of a building found in the wet tropical region of Cameroon. Window opening area positioning was done and the criteria for their operation were established. Simulation techniques using the energyplus calculation engine were employed. For each wall, the window opening area varied from 0 to 15.87 m²; in steps of 0.75 m², and information linked to thermal comfort was collected. The calculation engine was validated with Coefficient of Variation of the Root Mean Square Error of 11%, a Normalised Mean Bias Error of 2% and a Mean Absolute Percentage Error of 9.2%. Simulated values were, however, under-predicted by the software. The final results indicate that thermal comfort can be improved in buildings within the wet tropical region of Cameroon by increasing the window opening area to capture solar energy when the thermal sensation of occupants is ‘cool’ inside the building. Window opening area should, therefore, be situated on the east, west and south-facing walls of the building to capture the sun’s rays when the building occupants feel cold.

KEYWORDS:

• Passive design
• thermal comfort
• window opening area
• solar intake
• infiltration

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).