ABSTRACT
As eco-tourism develops and reaches out to tropical areas, it encounters conditions previously thought of as ‘out of comfort limits’. For some time now, with the use of dedicated building systems, we have been able to provide indoor comfort even under the harshest tropical conditions. Nevertheless, airconditioning cannot be considered an appropriate option for eco-resorts. Furthermore, comfort in the tropics can be achieved also with passive design, which appears to be a viable alternative. Passive means are quite capable of providing comfort levels acceptable to the majority of users of tropical ecotourist resorts. Indoor climate modification with passive rather than power-supported design also means that comfort is provided in a way that goes hand in hand with the principles of this eco-friendly form of tourism. These issues are presented in more detail in Part Three.
