An assessment of the effect of wind flow on the indoor thermal condition of some buildings in Benin City, Nigeria
Paper Details
An assessment of the effect of wind flow on the indoor thermal condition of some buildings in Benin City, Nigeria
Abstract
Natural ventilation plays a critical role in improving indoor thermal comfort and reducing reliance on mechanical cooling in hot-humid tropical environments. However, the influence of wind flow on indoor thermal conditions is strongly affected by building design and surrounding spatial characteristics, which remain insufficiently documented for residential buildings in Benin City, Nigeria. This study assessed the effect of wind flow on the indoor thermal conditions of selected residential buildings in five neighbourhoods of Benin City. A cross-sectional field survey involving 489 completed questionnaires was combined with field measurements of indoor temperature using a thermo-hygrometer and wind speed using a vane anemometer. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square test, and Pearson’s correlation analysis were used to analyse the data. The results showed that 58.3% of buildings were oriented east-west, 63.2% of rooms had only one window, 80.2% of buildings lacked courtyards, and 76.7% were constructed with sand screed solid block walls. Most buildings (70.6%) were separated from neighbouring buildings by 3–6 m, while 56.0% had boundary wall setbacks of only 0.3–1.2 m. Ceiling fans were the predominant cooling method (85.1%), reflecting occupants’ dependence on mechanically assisted air movement. Wind speed exhibited a significant positive correlation with indoor temperature (r= 0.71, p = 0.041), indicating that wind alone did not guarantee improved indoor thermal conditions. The study concludes that indoor thermal comfort is determined by the combined effects of wind flow, building orientation, ventilation openings, spatial configuration, and plot characteristics. Integrating climate-responsive design principles into residential planning can enhance passive cooling, improve indoor thermal comfort, and reduce dependence on mechanical cooling in hot-humid tropical environments.
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