Nigerian Study Redefines Housing Comfort for Tropical Africa

A new Nigerian study is reshaping how we think about housing comfort in tropical Africa. Researchers found that residents of low-income settlements adapt better to higher indoor temperatures than international standards suggest, highlighting the need for locally informed models. Instead of relying on costly air conditioning, the study shows that these people rely on affordable, passive design strategies—like cross-ventilation, shading, and earth-based materials such as mud—to keep their homes cool. Buildings made of adobe or compressed earth blocks, for instance, offered more comfortable conditions than makeshift metal or plastic structures. The findings challenge Western benchmarks and call for housing policies that reflect local realities, paving the way for climate-responsive, low-cost housing solutions across sub-Saharan Africa.

The Conversation