The hybrid attic ventilation technique as a sustainable strategy for thermal comfort improvement and energy saving in tropical residential buildings

Abstract

Thermal comfort in hot-humid tropical climates, such as Malaysia’s, is significantly affected by solar radiation, humidity, and air temperature. Solar radiation heats the roof, warming the enclosed attic space and distributing heat throughout the building’s interior. In tropical regions, the attic is integral to the building, and inadequate ventilation can elevate the overall thermal load. This study investigates the impact of a hybrid attic ventilation technique designed to operate continuously over 24 h on enhancing thermal comfort and increasing energy savings. Field measurements were conducted simultaneously in two typical one-storey terrace houses: one with conventional attic conditions and the other equipped with hybrid attic ventilation. Building Information Modelling (BIM) was used to simulate and analyse energy consumption. The results demonstrated that the hybrid ventilation system improved thermal comfort by reducing indoor temperature by 1 °C and relative humidity by 7%, achieving a 10% reduction in overall building energy consumption. The results showed that this hybrid technique effectively enhances thermal comfort and energy efficiency through continuous operation, showing the benefits of both nighttime and daytime ventilation.