International Journal of Engineering Applied Sciences and Technology, 2022 Vol. 7, Issue 4, ISSN No. 2455-2143, Pages 281-286 Published Online August 2022 in IJEAST (http://www.ijeast.com) 281 EFFECT OF WINDOWS CONFIGURATION IN WALL PANELS ON ROOM TEMPERATURE IN NATURALLY VENTILATED RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN ASABA, NIGERIA Chime Charles Department of Architecture Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, Delta State, Nigeria Abstract—The type of windows configuration in residential building influences the amount of radiation that enters into the interior occupied spaces. The level of comfort or discomfort experienced within the buildings is thus hinged on the type of window configuration in the building facade. There are different window configurations in the study area, and the environmental designers or architects use any of the window type in spite to its implication on thermal comfort aspect of the building. Physical measurements and questionnaire were conducted in naturally ventilated residential buildings, to investigate the effect of window configuration in wall panels on room temperature in naturally ventilated residential buildings in Asaba, Nigeria. The effect of indoor room temperature on occupant thermal comfort was examined. Different window configurations commonly used in residential buildings in the study area are sliding, projected, casement, casement-with-vent, and louvre window. The results show that appropriate window configuration in wall panels can provide comfort level on room temperature. Recommendations were made to improve thermal comfort in residential buildings using window configuration with PMV value of 4.5 or less which are casement with vent, louvre and casement windows in naturally ventilated residential buildings. Keywords— Natural Ventilation, Occupant Thermal Comfort, Room Temperature, Warm-humid climate, Window Configuration, Asaba, Nigeria. I. INTRODUCTION The cardinal attributes of habitability in a house, and indeed any built form in the warm-humid climate is effective natural ventilation, or the ability to maintain a constant indoor temperature for residents’ living comfort, even in the face of fluctuations in outdoor temperature [8]. Windows play significant role in the admittance of radiation into residential buildings thereby influencing thermal comfort of the indoor space [10]. Besides this, the issues that often arose and complained about by residents of naturally ventilated buildings in the study area were terrible health conditions due to room temperature effect emanating from window configuration [12]. Residents’ then use electro-mechanical devices for comfort provision with its high cost and climate change effects. The aim of this study is to achieve comfort level on room temperature through efficient utilization of window configuration in naturally ventilated residential buildings in Asaba, Nigeria. The research question is; to what extent do windows configuration in wall panels affect room temperature in naturally ventilated residential buildings? Room temperature could be influenced by the configuration of window thereby making its study imperative in residential buildings. The sound knowledge of effect of window configuration in wall panels on room temperature is necessary for efficient design of window opening types in buildings. II. LITERATURE REVIEW In naturally ventilated buildings purpose-provided openings allow fresh outside air to enter and exhaust air to exit a building through a window [14]. Windows can provide the needed amount of good air quality through a natural process of allowing air, in and out of buildings, in order to achieve thermal comfort if appropriately used [9]. However, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air- Conditioning Engineers [1] define thermal comfort as that condition of mind which expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment. Nevertheless, thermal discomfort can lead to heat stress. Heat stress is defined as the combination of air temperature, radiation, moisture content of the air, air movement, clothing and behaviour that induces a physiological inability of the body to maintain its temperature within limits that permit normal physiological performance [2]. Thermal comfort level can be defined in term of range of operative temperature and also by Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) index and Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD) index. The model named Predicted Mean Vote model was developed by Fanger [4] which combines the six thermal comfort parameters into an index that can be used to predict thermal comfort level. PMV index is derived on the basis of experimental conditions which are near thermal neutrality or