Indoor thermal environment and effect of air movement on comfort temperature in Malaysian naturally ventilated dwellings

Indoor environment and thermal comfort levels in residential buildings differ depending on the designs, alterations made to the dwelling, and the adaptability of the residents. Naturally ventilated (NV) dwellings in tropical climates are still in high demand due to their energy efficiency. However, there is no standard dedicated to residential thermal comfort in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the patterns of indoor thermal environments and the effect of air movement on comfort temperature in Malaysian naturally ventilated dwellings. Field measurement and thermal comfort surveys were conducted in 53 dwellings with 1012 samples and 209 respondents. The study showed that when the outdoor temperature was 25 °C, the globe temperatures were higher than the outdoor temperature ranging from 26 to 32 °C. The residents were generally well-satisfied with the thermal environment of their dwellings as most of the residents voted in their comfort zone. The range of temperature at which 80 % are comfortable is from 26 to 33 °C. The mean comfort temperature is 30.5 °C with a standard deviation of 1.7 °C. The comfort temperature of the residents increased by 1 °C when using the fan. These results are helpful for improving residential design and living conditions while applicable as a preliminary data for the development of thermal comfort standards in Malaysia. • Indoor temperatures in investigated naturally ventilated (NV) dwellings exceed comfort standards. • Comfort temperature ranges for most of residents is 26–33 °C. • Region-specific standards are needed as tropical residents tolerate warmer conditions. • Fan usage increased comfort temperature by 1 °C, enhancing thermal comfort.