Heat-resistant building design helps homes stay cool naturally, reducing the need for air conditioning. This can involve using reflective roofing and wall materials that bounce sunlight away, improving insulation to keep heat out, and designing buildings to catch the breeze. In islands like Curaçao, Aruba, and St. Martin, where temperatures are high and energy costs are significant, homes can be built or retrofitted to take advantage of prevailing winds for natural ventilation. Other options include using natural stone as a building material and making smart use of shading and tree canopies. These passive cooling strategies make buildings more comfortable and energy-efficient.
Heat resistant building design can be incorporated into resilient building codes.
Feasibility & Local Applicability
This approach is highly feasible for new buildings and can be adapted to existing ones with moderate effort. The Caribbean’s climate and traditional architecture already support many of these techniques. Local materials and knowledge can be used to implement these designs, making them culturally and environmentally appropriate.
Co-benefits
- Lower energy bills due to reduced air conditioning use
- Improved indoor comfort and air quality
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
- Enhanced resilience to heatwaves and power outages
Equity & Vulnerability Considerations
While these designs can improve living conditions, they may increase upfront housing costs. Support for low-income households is essential to ensure everyone benefits. Community-led housing projects and subsidies can help make these solutions more accessible.
Costs
Low – Medium | Initial costs vary depending on materials and design changes. Reflective roofing and insulation may cost more upfront but lead to long-term savings. Passive cooling strategies often have low maintenance costs and high returns in energy savings.
Case-studies & Examples
Literature
- Bulbaai, R., & Halman, J. I. (2021). Energy-efficient building design for a tropical climate: A field study on the caribbean island curaçao. Sustainability, 13(23), 13274.
- Kokatnur, T., Ferreira, S., Akkoç, B. K., Markarian, E., Nojedehi, P., Qiblawi, S., ... & Azar, E. (2025). A review of passive design strategies and their effect on thermal resilience in low-income households. Energy and Buildings, 116508.
- Kuś, A. M., Mota, N., van Bueren, E., Carmona Báez, A., & Asselbergs, T. (2024). Designing for a Flow: Navigating Temporalities in Housing Considerations in Low-Income and Hazard-Prone Caribbean Contexts. Buildings, 14(2), Article 327.