2025, Vol. 4, Issue 2, Part A

Background: Tropical regions face high energy consumption in buildings due to elevated ambient temperatures, humidity, and intense solar radiation. Smart building technologies offer adaptive solutions to reduce energy demand while maintaining thermal comfort.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the energy efficiency performance of Smart buildings under tropical climate conditions, focusing on energy use intensity, HVAC energy demand, peak load reduction, and thermal comfort stability.

Methods: A quantitative analytical design was used involving 40 buildings (20 Smart, 20 Conventional) located in tropical zones. Real-time data on energy use, HVAC performance, and indoor environmental conditions were collected over 12 months. Statistical analyses including Welch t-tests, effect size estimation, and multivariate regression were employed to assess differences between building types and determine climatic sensitivity. Adaptive comfort models were applied to evaluate occupant thermal comfort.

Results: Smart buildings exhibited significantly lower annual energy use intensity (mean difference ? ?30 kWh/m²·yr, p < 0.001), reduced HVAC energy consumption, and lower peak cooling demand compared to Conventional buildings. Comfort compliance was also higher in Smart buildings. Monthly energy patterns revealed that Smart buildings maintained flatter energy demand curves across hotter months, indicating greater resilience to climatic stressors. Regression analysis confirmed that Smart building status was an independent negative predictor of HVAC energy use, even after controlling for cooling degree days and relative humidity.

Conclusion: Smart buildings provide substantial energy efficiency gains and enhanced comfort in tropical climates through intelligent control, adaptive operation, and climatic responsiveness. Practical recommendations include integrating automated HVAC control systems, passive design strategies, predictive maintenance, and adaptive comfort models into building design and operation. These strategies can inform sustainable urban planning, energy policy, and climate adaptation frameworks in tropical regions.