An Empirical Study on Time Lag Phenomenon Regarding Summertime Indoor Thermal Environments in the Domestic Buildings of Different Construction Types in Hot-Humid Climate Zone

Abstract

In the empirical case studies of the seven detached house buildings situated in Yilan, Taiwan in a hot and humid climate, this research conducted the actual measurements and analysis of the Summertime Indoor and Outdoor thermal environment parameters in order to accomplish the research of Time Lag Phenomenon of Summertime Indoor Temperature and Humidity in the Buildings of Light (Composite) Constructions and Heavy (Reinforced Concrete) Constructions. Firstly, it indicated that given the condition of doors and windows in closed positions, there would be Time Lag Phenomenon for both of the indoor Temperature and Humidity measurements in domestic buildings. The Temperature Time Lag for Heavy Construction Buildings had a duration of around three hours, almost as twice that of the figure for Light Construction Buildings. There was a significant correlation between Quantity of Interior Finishes and Humidity Time Lag inside domestic buildings, whereas the bigger the Quantity of Interior Finishes, the longer the Humidity Time Lag. Secondly, it also showed that given the condition of doors and windows in opened positions, there was almost zero Time Lag for both of the domestic indoor Temperature and Humidity measurements. Last but not least, generally speaking, the Ratio of Indoor/Outdoor Diurnal Temperature Range of Light Construction Buildings were higher than that of Heavy Construction Buildings. In particular, given the condition of doors and windows in opened positions with natural ventilation in summertime, it was slightly cooler inside the Light Construction Domestic Buildings than the Heavy Construction Domestic Buildings.