Thermal comfort of house and it’s influence on people’s quality of life

Thermal comfort in a place of living is an important physical aspect of people’s quality of life. This study identifies internal and external thermal discomfort that contribute to quality of life.The present study was conducted in Section 1 and Section 2 of Bandar Baru Bangi, Kajang Utama, Bukit Mewah and Taman Sentosa, Kajang. Temperature measurements were carried out four time daily, in the morning, evening, afternoon and night, for both the inside and outside of 70 houses selected as sample. The study recorded interior temperatures ranging between 23 ºC-31 ºC, and external temperatures between 25 ºC-32 ºC. Relative humidity for all stations were high, between 51%-90%. The study tend to show that bungalow type of houses are the most comfortable to live in, with temperature between 23 ºC-28 ºC and relative humidity of 65%-70%. Flats are the least comfortable to the live in, with temperatures between 24 ºC-32 ºC and relative humidity of 51%-59%. However, overall except for bungalow in the morning, under normal circumtances, the living places of most people in the Kajang Municipality are less confortable. This suggests that thermal discomfort is contribute to the decline of physical quality of life of the people.