Implications of Thermal Comfort and Energy Poverty on the Quality of Life in Internally Displaced People (IDPs) of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Sri Lanka ranks as second in the Global Climate Risk Index in 2019 and heat stress an evolving global crisis making the lives critical in the world, where by overheated interiors are more fatal than the surrounding thus households spending much time indoor ranging from 65 to 90% are more susceptible. Internally Displaced People (IDPs) are more prone to heat strain due to deprived social and economic status thus perceiving overheated residences as thermally comfortable. Since rehabilitation programs are not addressing holistic housing approach synchronized thermal comfort and energy poverty are making the condition more pathetic. IDP and resilient housing are less interested areas in developing nations. Thus, this study experimentally investigated synergy and synchronized impact of thermal comfort and energy poverty of IDPs who are not prioritizing the occupant health and well-being over the other. Thus, they tend to exhibit adaptive behaviors for cooling in naturally ventilated residences in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Onsite field investigations were performed in objective and subjective means inclusive of personal monitoring, questionnaire surveys and physical measurements in four schemes of rehabilitation programme in seven regions. Results explicitly proved the presence of overheated interiors and prominent habitual adjustments through passive means to cope up high temperature at the cost of thermal comfort and energy consumption. Severity of heat stress was measured using several heat indices and complex predicted mean value model. Around 98% of the population has the warning signs for possible heat cramps and heat exhaustion based on apparent temperature index. Presence of hidden energy poverty condition is proved through the lack of access to modern, clean, reliable and affordable access to electricity and cooking fuel. Though the electrification rate was 93.75%, mean energy consumption was just around 52 kWh per month per household and access to clean cooking fuel is 29%. This deadly combination of fuel poverty and lack of comfort, lowered indoor air quality has been a significant factor for 62% of the residences reporting at least one type of illness and being more prone to cardiovascular and respiratory disorders (37%). Thus, the study evidenced the synergy between the thermal comfort and energy poverty in lowering the quality of life of IDPs and suggesting design implications with inclusive passive designs justifying more comfortable, healthy and low-energy living of interiors in Sri Lankan contest in the context of warming climates.