New Delhi, Aug. 12 -- Summary A Nigerian study challenges global heating comfort standards by revealing that residents in tropical climates can tolerate higher indoor temperatures than previously assumed.

Researcher Mak Okay-Ikenegbu's findings suggest that affordable housing designs can be climate-appropriate without relying on energy-intensive solutions like air conditioning.

This opens up possibilities for using local materials and passive design techniques to enhance comfort in low-cost housing.

Global standards for heating comfort are largely based on cooler, northern hemisphere climates. How relevant are these benchmarks in low-cost housing in warmer African regions?

Mak Okay-Ikenegbu did his doctoral research on thermal comfort...