Comparative Thermal Comfort Analysis Between Modern and Traditional Residential Indoor Environments in Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

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The study investigates the indoor thermal environments and comforts levels in Selangor, Malaysia by comparing modern and traditional housing types. The primary objective is to identify differences in thermal comfort between these housing types and understand how architectural features and environmental responses influence temperature variations. A systematic approach was employed, involving six detailed case studies that include mix of both modern and traditional houses. Temperature data were collected using a combination of onsite measurement and simulations, where architectural features were analysed through detail surveys and building inspections. The case study method was chosen for its ability to provide in-depth, contextualised insights, the use of multiple case studies allowed for robust cross-validation and triangulation of findings. The results show that modern houses exhibit more consistent temperature due to presence of insulation, leading to stable indoor environments. In contrast, traditional houses, which rely on passive design strategies, showed larger temperature fluctuations but maintained lower overall temperatures, demonstrating the effectiveness of these strategies in reducing heat gain. The study highlights the benefits and limitation of both housing types. It suggests that integrating traditional passive design elements with modern technologies could optimised thermal comfort while potentially reducing energy consumption. The findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on future research aimed at improving indoor environment quality and energy efficiency in residential building.