A Comparative Assessment Of Thermal Comfort In Residential Buildings In Asaba And Igbuzor In Delta

Abstract

Thermal comfort is a critical aspect of human well-being, particularly in relation to the built environment. It refers to the state of mind that expresses satisfaction with the surrounding thermal conditions. This study was carried out to compare the indoor/outdoor thermal comfort conditions in Asaba and Igbuzor. The quasi-experimental research design was used. Meteorological data (1983-2022) from weather station in Asaba and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) were used. Air temperature, humidity, windspeed and direction were the data collected. The historical data was complemented with measurements of weather parameters in Asaba and Igbuzor (January-December 2022). The Effective Temperature Index (ET) was used to determine the thermal conditions. The paired samples t test tested the difference in ET. Findings indicated that monthly average temperature for Asaba ranged between 29.9°C and 25.7°C; minimum temperature in Asaba had a range of 2.2°C. Maximum temperature was hottest in February (34.9°C). Relative humidity increased from 65% in January to 88% in June, July and August (JJA). Mean annual temperature for Igbuzor ranged between 29.4°C and 25.5°C. The annual minimum temperature in Igbuzor had a range of 2.1°C. Maximum temperature was hottest in February (34.3°C); while July (28.4°C) and August (28.4°C) were coolest. ET for Asaba was 27.6 °C, while the ET for Igbuzor was 24.5°C. The paired t test result showed that effective temperature in Asaba was significantly different from that of Igbuzor at, t(364) = 10.3, p<.005. The study recommends the need to revisit the building construction processes in Asaba, keeping in mind the findings of this study.