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The Effect of Building Colour on Indoor Thermal Comfort in Tropical Buildings

Abstract

Building colour is an important architectural design element that can influence the thermal conditions experienced within buildings, particularly in tropical climates where high solar radiation and elevated outdoor temperatures are common. The choice of external and internal colours can affect the amount of solar radiation absorbed or reflected by building surfaces, thereby influencing heat transfer into interior spaces. Dark-coloured surfaces generally absorb more solar energy, while lighter colours tend to reflect a greater proportion of incident radiation. Understanding this relationship is important for improving indoor thermal comfort and reducing dependence on mechanical cooling systems in tropical buildings. This study examines the effect of building colour on indoor thermal comfort in tropical buildings, with particular attention to the relationship between surface colour, solar heat gain, indoor temperature, and occupants' thermal perception. It considers how variations in building colours applied to external walls, roofs, and other exposed surfaces may influence the thermal behaviour of buildings. The study also considers the interaction between colour selection and other building characteristics, including orientation, material properties, shading, ventilation, and building envelope design. The research focuses on the thermal performance of different colour treatments under tropical climatic conditions. Light, medium, and dark colours can produce different levels of solar reflectance and surface temperature, which may subsequently affect indoor air temperature and mean radiant temperature. The study evaluates how these differences influence thermal comfort within occupied spaces. Particular attention is given to the potential of high-reflectance colours to reduce heat absorption and improve indoor conditions, especially in buildings that rely substantially on natural ventilation. In addition to surface reflectance, the study recognizes that building colour does not operate independently from other environmental and architectural factors. The effectiveness of a particular colour may vary according to solar orientation, roof configuration, wall construction, insulation, window design, shading devices, and local climatic conditions. Occupant behaviour, clothing, ventilation preferences, and patterns of building use may also influence perceived thermal comfort. Consequently, the study considers building colour as one component of a broader passive design strategy rather than as an isolated solution to thermal discomfort. The findings are expected to provide useful information for architects, building designers, and property developers seeking simple and relatively low-cost strategies for improving thermal performance in tropical buildings. Appropriate colour selection may contribute to reducing surface heat absorption, lowering indoor temperatures, and improving occupants' thermal comfort, particularly where air-conditioning use is limited or costly. The study may also highlight differences between colour strategies for roofs and walls and identify situations in which colour selection can provide meaningful thermal benefits. Ultimately, the study aims to establish a clearer understanding of the relationship between building colour and indoor thermal comfort in tropical environments. By examining colour as part of climate-responsive architectural design, the research contributes to the development of passive strategies that can improve indoor environmental quality while potentially reducing building energy consumption. The findings can support evidence-based colour selection and encourage architects to consider both aesthetic and environmental performance when making material and finishing decisions for tropical buildings.

Keywords: Building colour, Thermal comfort, Tropical buildings, Solar radiation, Solar reflectance, Heat absorption, Indoor temperature, Surface temperature, Building envelope, Passive design, Energy efficiency, Climate-responsive architecture, Occupant comfort, Sustainable building design.