Bioclimatic residential building design under tropical humid conditions: short on-site comfort evaluations and physical investigations for different case studies in Quintana Roo, Mexico

Abstract

Within the scope of this work, requirements on bioclimatic building design have been investigated for the provision of thermal comfort for residential buildings in the warm-humid climate of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Resulting environmental impacts were estimated with focus on embodied energy and CO2 emissions of the building materials. Series of temperature and humidity measurements of indoor climate in comparison with exterior have been conducted for several days and for three different bioclimatic building types during the high temperature season. The resulting values confirmed the estimations by supportive decision tools that exclusive natural ventilation does not meet the comfort requirements year-round. By indoor temperature at medium body height 4 Kelvin below the exterior in the afternoon, the test results suggest the suitability of natural pitched roofs. The replacement of natural by more durable materials causes loss of permeability and thus requires elaborate measures for adequate ventilation. In addition, the environmental impact increases many times over, due to high energy input for manufacture and transport. Therefore, locally available materials are preferable. Fundamental guidelines for building planning in Quintana Roo have been elaborated and reassessed with regard to the specific case studies.