Thermal comfort in the different settings of low-income dwellings in Surakarta, Indonesia

Thermal comfort in the different settings of low-income dwellings in Surakarta, Indonesia

Arsandrie, Y.
Kurvers, S.R.

Architecture and The Built Environment

Architectural Engineering +Technology

2010-11-03

As a preparation to develop guidelines and design principles for better dwellings in the tropics, a pilot survey was conducted to get data of the current situation of thermal comfort in the dwellings of low-income people in Surakarta, Central Java - Indonesia. These improper dwellings which locate nearby the rivers have ever been hit by big floods in the past and they obviously have very limited access to the green infrastructures. Research observed how people who are living in different settings of low-income dwellings will feel against indoor thermal conditions. Research was done in April 2009 when there was a dry season. As much as 64 respondents from two kampongs in Surakarta were involved. Survey included field measurements, interviews, and observations in the dwellings and surrounding environment. Field measurements were conducted to collect data related indoor thermal conditions (air temperature, relative humidity, and air velocity). Survey was done mostly from 09.00am to 14.00pm WIB (West Indonesian Time) as the most severe condition. At the same time, respondents were interviewed by surveyors to answer some questions about their feeling of comfort at the moment by using 7 point thermal sensation scale, 5 point of thermal comfort scale, and 3-point-McIntyre-scale of thermal preference. Research has found that respondents feel comfortable at a wide range of air temperatures around 3.5-8.5ºC higher than the average monthly outdoor temperature. More people felt discomfort/slightly discomfort in the densely row setting dwellings than in the more scattered one, although the dwellings performance is not so much different.

dwellings
low-income
hot-humid climate
thermal comfort
green spaces

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:31dcc845-9b76-4e14-a4be-be93e96e1370

Research Institute for Human Settlements

9786028330466

2nd International Seminar on Tropical Eco-Settlements "Green Infrastructure: A Strategy to Sustain Urban Settlements", Sanur Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, 3-5 November 2010

Institutional Repository

conference paper

(c) 2010 The Author(s)