A STUDY OF LOW ENERGY AND PASSIVE COOLING STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVED THERMAL COMFORT IN MANUFACTURING FACILITIES IN TROPICAL CLIMATES

Thermal comfort is an age-old issue human beings continue to seek solutions to. The thermal comfort of buildings is an essential consideration in tropical regions, such as Abuja, Nigeria where heat levels are relatively high; and climatic issues such as global warming have made this consideration more crucial. Furthermore, the expensive cost of energy in Nigeria encourages the use of low energy and passive cooling strategies in this region. This thesis reviews various existing low energy and passive cooling building strategies for consideration in the design of a textile factory in Abuja, Nigeria. The study identifies strategies relevant to the tropical savannah climate, explores their existing application in building case studies, and implements these findings in a textile factory design. The methodology employed consisted of a systematic literature review using electronic databases and journals such as Academia, Science Direct, Researchgate, and Google Scholar. Some of the findings from the literature review confirm the high effectiveness of natural ventilation for lowering overheating in tropical climates, the use of high thermal mass materials for building construction and roof insulation in ensuring thermal comfort in tropical regions, and the thermal efficiency of rectilinear forms, small window openings and central courtyards. Recommendations from this thesis include the utilization of locally available materials, the integration of vernacular design principles, the adoption of specific window designs, and the implementation of vertical greenery systems.