The part of a house that is often exposed to solar radiation the most is the roof. In order to reduce the amount of heat that enters your home in hot tropical regions, choosing the correct roof is crucial. An important component of any home or structure is the roof. Shelters in the tropics can function without walls, windows, doors, or even a floor. But a roof is necessary to provide shelter from the sun and rain protection. It must therefore function well in its environment. In addition to a roof's storm resistance, you should pick a design that limits...

The Dominican Republic takes up the eastern two-thirds of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, with Haiti (View: A Map of Haiti) taking up the western third. Haiti is around the same size as Maryland with a land area of 10,714 square miles. Cap-Hatien, Jérémie, Les Cayes, Hinche, Gonaves, and Jacmel are the principal cities. French and Haitian Creole are the two official languages in Haiti. On December 6, 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered a kingdom headed by a cacique or Taino Indian leader on the island of Hispaniola. The indigenous population was mostly wiped off after the French came in the...