A COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF HUMAN THERMAL COMFORT OF SARKIN-PA WA AND LIMA WA-MINNA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA, USING THE EFFECTIVE TEMPERATURE INDEX

Abstract

People learned by trial and error the influences of weather on their dwelling design. Building fonn part of mans environment. This research work specifically deals with human thermal comfort in relation to their existing and future dwellings. The general idea behind the proposal was to measure the level of human stress using effective temperature index, questionnaire and physical assessment of the study area were utilized in the collection of data's relevant to the research proposal taking into cognizance the climatic elements of the study area and inconsideration of different building designs and building materials used in the construction, as it affects their socio- economic perfonnance and to provide data's for future designs (planning) and protection of the environment. The findings show that population, Poor ventilation, direct influence of solar radiation, windy rains, terrain finishing's and buildings orientation are examples of such problems that lead to discomfort. The dwellings mainly rely on mechanical systems to separate conditions inside from those of outside. The environment of Limawa and Sarkin- Pawa are rarely within acceptable comfort limits, 66.6% bftbe people in Sarkin-Pawa were comfortable as against 6.6% in the Limawa-Minna. It is recommended that, Planners and Architects should have climatic data, to have a clear picture of the year- round, every moment of the day, and performance of climate to achieve desired human comfort