Comparative Analysis Of Bio-Climatic Thermal Comfort For Condominium And Traditional House In Afar, Semera.

Abstract

To ensure occupant?�?s health and productivity the thermal comfort of the indoor environment is paramount. This research was conducted in the capital city of Afar regional state of Semera, on a comparative analysis of thermal comfort of condominium and traditional house. The objective of this study was to evaluate the bio-climatic thermal comforts of condominium building with respect to the old traditional house. The investigation was conducted using both objective and subjective thermal comfort evaluation methods. The objective method was conducted by measuring the indoor environment thermal comfort factors such as the temperature and relative humidity by using two Digital infrared thermometer and two hygrometers and both houses were evaluated for three consecutive months within three days interval within three-hour difference. The subjective method refers to informal interview, structured questioners including ASHRAE 7- points of thermal sensational scale which were able to investigate the perceptions of the society in question. For the survey 106 targets groups of respondents were purposively selected from the population based on their living experience in both houses. This paper discussed findings from both methods used for thermal comfort evaluation. Accordingly, from the total respondents 87.73% of respondents replied as the thermal sensational scale of traditional house is better than the modern house,83.2% informants were reacted as the thermal preference of traditional house was better than the modern house and concerning to thermal satisfaction,79.24% respondents prefer traditional house than modern house. In case of recorded temperature and humidity data the traditional house was better than the modern houses in all three consecutive months. Generally, the thermal comfort of the traditional house is better than the condominium house this is because of traditional house was built with locally available materials and with the consideration of the local climate context. However, this is not to recommend to return back to the traditional house rather to improve the modern house so as to adapt some important traditional methods and strategies.