Adaptive Comfort Design for Hot and Humid Climates

Achieving thermal comfort in hot and humid regions requires more than mechanical cooling — it depends on understanding how people adapt to their environment. This course examines adaptive thermal comfort as both a behavioral and environmental strategy for reducing energy demand and improving occupant well-being.

Participants will learn how design choices such as ventilation layout, shading, and material selection interact with occupant behavior, including window operation, clothing choices, and fan use. The program highlights how air movement, humidity control, and psychological adaptation shape thermal perception in tropical and subtropical contexts.

Drawing on international research and case studies, the course provides practical frameworks for architects, engineers, and sustainability professionals seeking to design climate-responsive buildings that balance comfort with energy efficiency.

Key topics include:

• The impact of behavioural adaptation on thermal comfort in humid conditions.
• Designing buildings to support adaptive comfort and reduce energy use.
• Insights from case studies in hot and humid climates.