Evaluating Passive Design Strategies for Thermal Comfort Optimization in Tropical Educational Buildings: A Simulation-Based Approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51903/v0tpg347Keywords:
thermal comfort, passive design, natural ventilation, shading, educational buildingsAbstract
hermal comfort in educational buildings located in tropical climates remains a critical challenge due to high temperatures and intense solar exposure. This study investigates the effectiveness of passive design strategies in improving indoor thermal conditions through a simulation-based approach. A building model was developed by incorporating climatic parameters, material properties, and opening configurations, and subsequently tested under multiple design scenarios, including variations in orientation, shading devices, and natural ventilation. The findings indicate that each strategy contributes to reducing indoor temperature, with natural ventilation and shading emerging as the most influential factors. The combined application of these strategies achieves the most significant improvement, reflected in lower operational temperatures and enhanced thermal comfort levels. These results highlight the potential of passive design as a practical solution for enhancing indoor environmental quality while reducing energy dependence in tropical educational buildings.
Downloads
References
[1] L. Yi, Y. Xie, and C. Lin, “Thermal Environment and Energy Performance of a Typical Classroom Building in a Hot-Humid Region: A Case Study in Guangzhou, China,” Geofluids, vol. 2022, no. 1, p. 3226001, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1155/2022/3226001.
[2] E. J. Mba, F. O. Okeke, E. C. Ezema, P. I. Oforji, and C. A. Ozigbo, “Post Occupancy Evaluation of Ventilation Coefficient Desired for Thermal Comfort in Educational Facilities,” Journal of Human, Earth, and Future, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 88–102, Mar. 2023, doi: 10.28991/HEF-2023-04-01-07.
[3] M. Shrestha and H. B. Rijal, “Investigation on Summer Thermal Comfort and Passive Thermal Improvements in Naturally Ventilated Nepalese School Buildings,” Energies 2023, Vol. 16, Page 1251, vol. 16, no. 3, p. 1251, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.3390/EN16031251.
[4] A. Borisuit and P. Suriyothin, “Thermal Comfort Improvement with Passive Design Strategies in Child Development Centers in Thailand,” Sustainability 2022, Vol. 14, Page 16713, vol. 14, no. 24, p. 16713, Dec. 2022, doi: 10.3390/SU142416713.
[5] T. Xia, A. S. Ali, and N. Mahyuddin, “Multi-Objective Optimization of Window Design for Energy and Thermal Comfort in School Buildings: A Sustainable Approach for Hot-Humid Climates,” Sustainability 2025, Vol. 17, Page 8646, vol. 17, no. 19, p. 8646, Sep. 2025, doi: 10.3390/SU17198646.
[6] M. Q. Oleiwi and M. F. Mohamed, “The Impacts of Passive Design Strategies on Building Indoor Temperature in Tropical Climate,” Pertanika J. Sci. Technol., vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 83–108, 2023, doi: 10.47836/PJST.31.1.06.
[7] G. Lamberti, G. Salvadori, F. Leccese, F. Fantozzi, and P. M. Bluyssen, “Advancement on Thermal Comfort in Educational Buildings: Current Issues and Way Forward,” Sustainability 2021, Vol. 13, Page 10315, vol. 13, no. 18, p. 10315, Sep. 2021, doi: 10.3390/SU131810315.
[8] C. ; Liu et al., “Evaluation of Passive Cooling and Thermal Comfort in Historical Residential Buildings in Zanzibar,” Buildings 2022, Vol. 12, Page 2149, vol. 12, no. 12, p. 2149, Dec. 2022, doi: 10.3390/BUILDINGS12122149.
[9] L. Yi, Y. Xie, and C. Lin, “Thermal Environment and Energy Performance of a Typical Classroom Building in a Hot-Humid Region: A Case Study in Guangzhou, China,” Geofluids, vol. 2022, no. 1, p. 3226001, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1155/2022/3226001.
[10] A. M. Aderinsola, O. Dare-Abel, O. Arayela, and O. O. Ajayi, “Evaluating Thermal Comfort Standards of Residential Housing in Tropical Climates: A Systematic Review,” Journal of Built Environment and Geological Research, Aug. 2025, doi: 10.70382/AJBEGR.V8I4.045.
[11] J. E. Egwabor, A. M. Aishat, ; Olodeoku, E. Mosopefoluwa, and A. Onamade, “Optimizing Building Orientation for Passive Cooling: A Comparative Study of Museums in Lagos,” African Journal of Environmental Sciences and Renewable Energy, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 01–16, Sep. 2024, doi: 10.62154/AJESRE.2024.016.010372.
[12] I. Gil-Ozoudeh, O. Iwuanyanwu, A. C. Okwandu, and C. S. Ike, “The role of passive design strategies in enhancing energy efficiency in green buildings,” Engineering Science & Technology Journal, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 71–91, Dec. 2022, doi: 10.51594/ESTJ.V3I2.1519.
[13] R. Bulbaai and J. I. M. Halman, “Energy-Efficient Building Design for a Tropical Climate: A Field Study on the Caribbean Island Curaçao,” Sustainability 2021, Vol. 13, Page 13274, vol. 13, no. 23, p. 13274, Nov. 2021, doi: 10.3390/SU132313274.
[14] M. Shrestha and H. B. Rijal, “Investigation on Summer Thermal Comfort and Passive Thermal Improvements in Naturally Ventilated Nepalese School Buildings,” Energies 2023, Vol. 16, Page 1251, vol. 16, no. 3, p. 1251, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.3390/EN16031251.
[15] Z. Gou, W. Gamage, S. S. Y. Lau, and S. S. Y. Lau, “An Investigation of Thermal Comfort and Adaptive Behaviors in Naturally Ventilated Residential Buildings in Tropical Climates: A Pilot Study,” Buildings 2018, Vol. 8, Page 5, vol. 8, no. 1, p. 5, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.3390/BUILDINGS8010005.
[16] S. Zahiri and H. Altan, “Improving energy efficiency of school buildings during winter season using passive design strategies,” Sustainable Buildings, vol. 5, p. 1, 2020, doi: 10.1051/SBUILD/2019005.
[17] D. Randjelovic, M. Vasov, M. Ignjatovic, M. Stojiljkovic, and V. Bogdanovic, “Investigation of a passive design approach for a building facility: a case study,” Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects, vol. 47, no. 1, pp. 8890–8908, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.1080/15567036.2021.1938761.
[18] T. Xi, S. U. Sa’ad, X. Liu, H. Sun, M. Wang, and F. Guo, “Optimization of Residential Indoor Thermal Environment by Passive Design and Mechanical Ventilation in Tropical Savanna Climate Zone in Nigeria, Africa,” Energies 2025, Vol. 18, Page 450, vol. 18, no. 3, p. 450, Jan. 2025, doi: 10.3390/EN18030450.
[19] A. Borisuit and P. Suriyothin, “Thermal Comfort Improvement with Passive Design Strategies in Child Development Centers in Thailand,” Sustainability 2022, Vol. 14, Page 16713, vol. 14, no. 24, p. 16713, Dec. 2022, doi: 10.3390/SU142416713.
[20] D. P. Sari, “A Review of How Building Mitigates the Urban Heat Island in Indonesia and Tropical Cities,” Earth 2021, Vol. 2, Pages 653-666, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 653–666, Sep. 2021, doi: 10.3390/EARTH2030038.
[21] M. Q. Oleiwi and M. F. Mohamed, “The Impacts of Passive Design Strategies on Building Indoor Temperature in Tropical Climate,” Pertanika J. Sci. Technol., vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 83–108, 2023, doi: 10.47836/PJST.31.1.06.
[22] S. Nogueira, A. I. Palmero-Marrero, D. Borge-Diez, E. Açikkalp, and A. C. Oliveira, “Energetic Analysis of Passive Solar Strategies for Residential Buildings with Extreme Summer Conditions,” Applied Sciences 2024, Vol. 14, Page 10761, vol. 14, no. 22, p. 10761, Nov. 2024, doi: 10.3390/APP142210761.
[23] J. Gamero-Salinas and J. López-Fidalgo, “Response Surface Methodology using desirability functions for multiobjective optimization to minimize indoor overheating hours and maximize useful daylight illuminance,” Scientific Reports 2025 15:1, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 12173-, Apr. 2025, doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-96376-x.
[24] Y. Chen et al., “Performance of passive design strategies in hot and humid regions. Case study: Tangerang, Indonesia,” Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 458–476, Jul. 2021, doi: 10.1080/13467581.2020.1798775.
[25] M. Q. Oleiwi and M. F. Mohamed, “The Impacts of Passive Design Strategies on Building Indoor Temperature in Tropical Climate,” Pertanika J. Sci. Technol., vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 83–108, 2023, doi: 10.47836/PJST.31.1.06.
[26] X. Zhong, H. Yu, Y. Tang, H. Mao, and K. Zhang, “Local Thermal Comfort and Physiological Responses in Uniform Environments,” Buildings 2024, Vol. 14, Page 59, vol. 14, no. 1, p. 59, Dec. 2023, doi: 10.3390/BUILDINGS14010059.
[27] I. H. Hatif, A. Hariri, and A. Fu’ad Idris, “CFD Letters CFD Analysis on Effect of Air Inlet and Outlet Location on Air Distribution and Thermal Comfort in Small Office,” CFD Letters, vol. 12, pp. 66–77, 2020, doi: 10.37934/cfdl.12.3.6677.
[28] V. Tuninetti, B. Ales, and T. Mora Chandía, “Numerical and Experimental Analysis of Thermal Stratification in Locally Heated Residential Spaces,” Buildings 2025, Vol. 15, Page 2417, vol. 15, no. 14, p. 2417, Jul. 2025, doi: 10.3390/BUILDINGS15142417.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Azed Yayah Durrotun Nihayah, Veron Ihza, Teguh Setiadi, Setiyo Prihatmoko (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.


