Abstract:
In Sri Lanka, the worsening problem of land scarcity due to urbanization has led
to higher temperatures in the urban centers along with the reduction of the green cover.
Consequently, the energy consumed to inhibit the thermal discomfort experienced in built
environments is on the rise, which is not a desirable development due to the limited energy
options available for Sri Lanka. This paper focuses on the domestic sector, with a view to
formulate concepts for sustainable residential developments for Sri Lanka taking
environmentally-friendly passive techniques as the basis. It is shown qualitatively that, to
reap the maximum benefits of passive techniques, the three-storey house should be preferred
to the single or the two-storey house; this will also maximize the effective use of expensive
urban land. It is also shown that passive housing developments require an integrated
approach from the beginning, i.e. in the stages of land subdivision and selection of the
orientation of the access roads. By making special provision for vegetation within the plots
as well as along the roads, it is proposed to create a microclimate desirable to thermal
comfort. Employing a questionnaire survey and examples applicable to Sri Lanka, various
aspects of thermal comfort, visual comfort, flash floods, functionality and construction cost
are discussed. It is finally emphasized that, for best results, a collective effort by an entire
neighborhood is vital.
