Higher space temperatures and better thermal comfort — a tropical analysis

In tropical buildings, it is not uncommon to find low space temperatures around 23 °C and high relative humidity levels in the order of about 70–75%. The present paper explores the possibility of operating at space temperatures close to 26 °C with relative humidity around 60%. The study is based on acceptable thermal comfort conditions in the space by resorting to ASHRAE comfort chart and comfort diagrams. The psychrometric challenge, as a consequence of higher space temperatures, is illustrated in the paper and an alternative method of air conditioning to overcome the problem is demonstrated. The analysis also reveals the potential savings in energy that could be obtained as a result of reduced space cooling loads due to higher space temperatures.