LAPSE:2023.29111
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.29111
A Literature Review of Naturally Ventilated Public Hospital Wards in Tropical Climate Countries for Thermal Comfort and Energy Saving Improvements
April 13, 2023
The tropical climate with its high average temperatures throughout the year affects the thermal comfort of buildings, especially for naturally ventilated spaces. The government’s move to turn hospitals into green buildings is seen in line with the global commitment to conserve the environment and the country’s current policy of supporting sustainable development. To achieve this goal, energy efficiency and thermal comfort need to be given priority in the focus on hospital planning and implementation for a better quality of the indoor environment. This literature review has led to the need to improve thermal comfort in natural ventilated wards in government hospitals. Some wards are built without air conditioning to save on construction costs, reduce utility costs through low energy consumption, as well as the need for infection control and airborne infections. However, current climate change requires a special study of thermal comfort in wards that use natural ventilation. An innovative solution is proposed to solve the problem statement identified in the reviewed literature through the application of solar PV/T systems and heat pumps. This hybrid system re-uses the heat energy (cogeneration) generated from solar PV panels to be cooled by heat pumps and is then pumped into the ward for cooling purposes. The proposed system has the potential to improve thermal comfort in natural ventilation wards and increase efficiency of the solar PV system for optimal electricity generation as well as improve the overall energy performance of buildings through low-energy cooling systems. It is not only solving the thermal comfort issue but also avoid the use of extra energy for cooling by optimizing the renewable energy.
Keywords
building energy, hybrid system, naturally ventilated ward, thermal comfort, tropical climate
Suggested Citation
Rahman NMA, Haw LC, Fazlizan A. A Literature Review of Naturally Ventilated Public Hospital Wards in Tropical Climate Countries for Thermal Comfort and Energy Saving Improvements. (2023). LAPSE:2023.29111
Author Affiliations
Rahman NMA: Solar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; Engineering Services Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Putrajaya 62590, WP Putrajaya, Malaysia [ORCID]
Haw LC: Solar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia [ORCID]
Fazlizan A: Solar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia [ORCID]
Journal Name
Energies
Volume
14
Issue
2
Article Number
en14020435
Year
2021
Publication Date
2021-01-15
Published Version
ISSN
1996-1073
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PII: en14020435, Publication Type: Review
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doi:10.3390/en14020435
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Apr 13, 2023
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