A Comparative Study of Passive Design Features/Elements in Malaysia and Passive House Criteria in the Tropics

In the Tropical climate, buildings gain solar heat and penetration through the building envelope and glazing which can cause overheating and thermal discomfort of occupants. Therefore, a conventional solution is by using electro-mechanical cooling system in buildings which raises energy demands dramatically, leading to ecological loading. In order to mitigate the cooling load energy consumption, natural ventilation and heat avoidance techniques have been researched and applied in Malaysia. Passive building design is a method to protect dwellers from the influence of external thermal discomfort. Likewise, this is in line with the characteristics of Malaysian vernacular architecture. Yet, previous studies on passive building design strategies have not been compared to the Passive House principles. Therefore, this paper reviews, accumulates and compares studies on passive design features/elements in Malaysia and Passive House criteria in the Tropics. Through this study, it is verified that the Passive House principles are applicable in the Tropical climate and similarities and/or differences in terms of achieving thermal comfort and energy reduction between a Passive House and other buildings with passive design features and strategies were identified.