  This paper deals with the elaboration of global quality standards for natural
and low energy cooling in french tropical island buildings. Electric load
profiles of tropical islands in developed countries are characterised by
morning, midday and evening peaks arising from all year round high power demand
in the commercial and residential sectors, mostly due to air conditioning
appliances and bad thermal conception of the building. In early 1995, a DSM
pilot initiative has been launched in the french islands of Guadeloupe and
Reunion through a partnership between the French Public Utility EDF,
institutions involved in energy conservation, environment preservation (ADEME)
and construction quality improvment, the University of Reunion Island and
several other public and private partners (low cost housing institutions,
architects, energy consultant, etc...) to set up a standard in the thermal
conception of buildings in tropical climates. This has led to definition of
optimized bioclimatic urban planning and architectural design, the use of
passive cooling architectural components, natural ventilation and energy
efficient systems. The impact of each technical solution on the thermal comfort
within the building was evaluated with an airflow and thermal building
simulation software (CODYRUN). These technical solutions have been edited in a
pedagogical reference document and have been implemented in 300 new pilot
dwelling projects through the year 1996 in Reunion Island and in Guadeloupe
island. An experimental follow up is still in process in the first ECODOM
dwellings for an experimental validation of the impact of the passive cooling
solutions on the comfort of the occupants and to modify them if necessary.
