Published Paper Details:

This paper presents a systematic review on different thermal comfort models in Indian residential buildings, to identify which model and building techniques are best suitable for designing affordable housing in warm and humid climate in India. Many case studies and models were reviewed and it was found that comfort studies in Indian residential buildings are scarce, scattered and unorganized. Further, due to differences in socio-cultural set-up and local adaptations, the prodigious variations in occupant's comfort requirements are reported. A literature case study is been done in which a longitudinal field research and in-situ field measurements are used to examine thermal adaptation in Mumbai, India's low-income homes. The comfort-related behaviours in low-income dwellings were influenced by temporal considerations, spatial arrangement, and underlying societal norms. Rather than thermal needs, the gendered socio-cultural practice of the purdah regime and western influences dominated clothing adaption. The study is useful in assessing how occupant behaviour affects building performance, which helps to guide building operation and design. The creation of design criteria for housing plans to produce low-income, thermally comfortable homes could have policy implications.