Search

Current thermal comfort models used in practice do not consider physiological and psychological differences of people. With this respect, human thermo-physiology models (HTPM) are useful tools to assess human thermal comfort at local and overall levels of the human body. All published HTPM models claim a high level of agreement with experimental data; however, in most cases, the comparison was made with data from third-party experimentation. This paper presents an independent detailed evaluation of two sophisticated human thermo-physiology models, JOS3 and ThermoSEM, considering individual parameters (sex, height, weight, etc.) as input. Both models are similar in heat transfer calculation but differ in thermoregulation control. For validation, the experimental study was conducted in a climatic chamber with male and female subjects sitting relaxed and standing sorting under different environmental conditions (22-28°C). The measured core temperature and the skin temperature at 14 locations were used to evaluate the predicted values. The paper highlights the capabilities and limitations of HTPMs and, furthermore, discusses the application of HTPMs in the field of individualized thermal comfort. The results show that HTPMs are valuable tools for predicting individual local thermal response but in order to reach a better accuracy models need more refinement on assumptions of local thermal characteristics.

The first step toward occupant-centric building design and operation is a fundamental understanding of the relationship between the built environment, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), and occupant needs for health, well-being, and productivity. This chapter starts with an overview of occupant needs, from physiological needs to self-esteem. Individual needs are linked to elements of the indoor built environment, including the four main domains of IEQ parameters: thermal, visual, acoustic, and indoor air quality. This overview is followed by a summary of mechanisms, from sensory input to human perception and from human perception to occupant behavior. The second part of this chapter looks at existing standards and how they incorporate the large body of scientific evidence presented in the first part of the chapter. The final part of this chapter addresses three selected topics that are still open discussions in the research community and need further work before conclusions can be drawn. The three topics are perceived control, the relationship between IEQ and energy, and the interaction between individual sensory domains.

Investigating the effect of coloured electric-light on human thermal responses.

Pre-registered pre-analysis plan for the study attract-hc: Attracting human capital for the Rhenisch mining area through comfortable, healthy, and productivity-enhancing indoor environmental spaces

The adaptive thermal comfort concept has been developed over many years and proven in numerous field studies (e.g. Webb 1964, Nicol and Humphreys 1973, Auliciems 1981b, de Dear et al. 1997, McCartney and Nicol 2002, Manu et al. 2016), showing that people are satisfied with a wide range of thermal conditions. Prerequisite is that people are provided with means to make themselves comfortable, that they know which opportunities they have, that it is socially acceptable to use these opportunities and that they are willing to use them (Hellwig, 2015). However, the overall understanding of how to design for such opportunities enabling the occupant to make themselves comfortable in relation to climate and building type, thus how to convert the adaptive thermal comfort concept into building design and concepts for operating buildings, is still limited. There are still common misunderstandings in the interpretation of the adaptive comfort approach among building planners and operators e.g. regarding the amount of control, the seriousness of this topic or the level of information needed by occupants for which reason guidance (e.g. CIBSE 2010, Cook et al. 2020) and knowledge transfer (e.g. Hellwig and Boerstra 2017, 2018) is absolutely essential. Consequently, there is still a gap between scientific research and real-world-application, which this report aims to diminish.In line with the activities within IEA EBC Annex 69 Subtasks A, B, and C, the present report includes four main sections, addressing the above listed identified challenges and barriers to the adoption of the adaptive thermal comfort in practice by explaining the adaptive thermal comfort principles, by illustrating the benefits from applying the adaptive principles in buildings, through guidance on how to implement the adaptive principles in the design and operation of buildings, especially providing guidance on how to design for adaptive opportunities. The Appendices contain additional information on standards, checklists for stakeholders in the design and operation of buildings as well as documentation and lessons learnt from the buildings investigated within this Annex 69 Subtask C. This report is formulated with the help of frameworks (Hellwig et al. 2019, Hellwig et al. 2020) developed to facilitate the adoption of adaptive principles in the design and operation of buildings. We aim to provide the knowledge on a general level of understanding, so that it is possible to apply the knowledge in different types of building usage, different climate zones and occupant groups. However, the majority of examples used in this report stems from office buildings, which is mainly rooted in the fact that the majority of research studies focussed on this type of building. Nevertheless, we have supplemented this report with examples from other building types. The target group of the guidelines in this report are building planners (architects, engineers, sustainability certification consultants/councils) and building operators (facility managers, operators, owners, and tenants). Furthermore, the guidelines in this report are intended as critical sources and guidance to educate future building professionals and stakeholders.The report includes four main sections, as outlined below.Section 2 summarises the three adaptive comfort principles, i.e. physiological, behavioural and psychological adaptation. The section follows with a discussion on the effectiveness of the adaptive principles and on the order of activation of adaptive responses. It ends with a brief account on the development of adaptive models.Section 3 describes the benefits from applying the adaptive principles in buildings, including energy savings, resilience to climate change, improved usability and thermal satisfaction, as well as improved health and well-being.Section 4 presents the developed framework for adopting the adaptive comfort principles in design and operation of buildings. The main elements of the framework are described, i.e. the building context, adaptive responses and actions, the building planning and design, –the adaptive opportunities design, and the operational planning and operation. Each of these subsections includes guidelines to facilitate the integration of adaptive principles. Section 4 ends with considerations and recommendations for adopting adaptive comfort in conditioned buildings, including advice for facilitating free-running mode in building operation as often as possible and ways to integrate the use of the adaptive principles in permanently or long-season conditioned spaces.AppendicesAppendix 1 summarises information on adaptive models used in international and national standards, as well as examples of models developed by research in various locations and climates.Appendix 2 provides checklists of parameters that can help stakeholders implement measures to ensure the availability of adaptive opportunities in buildings.Appendix 3 is a collation of case studies with practical learnings from adaptive buildings investigated in Annex 69 Subtask C.Appendix 4 lists publications, presentations and workshops related to Activity B2 of IEA EBC Annex 69.Authors of main report on guidelines, Appendix 1, 2, 4 worked out in Subtask B, Activity B2Lead: Runa T. Hellwig, Aalborg University, DenmarkCo-lead: Despoina Teli, Chalmers University, SwedenContributors:Marcel Schweiker, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, GermanyRodrigo Mora, British Columbia Institute of Technology, CanadaJoon-Ho Choi, University of Southern California, USARajan Rawal, CEPT University, IndiaM.C.Jeffrey Lee National Taichung University of Science and Technology, TaiwanWang Zhaojun, Harbin Institute of Technology, ChinaFarah Al-Atrash, German Jordanian University, JordanAuthors of Appendix 3 Documentation of buildings investigated in Annex 69, Subtask CLead: Richard de Dear, University of Sydney, AustraliaCo-Lead: Stephanie Gauthier, University of Southampton, UK; Jungsoo Kim, University of Sydney, AustraliaContributors (in alphabetical order): Farah Al-Atrash, German Jordanian University, JordanLeonidas Bourikas, University of Southampton, UK Bin Cao, Tsinghua University, ChinaJoon-Ho Choi, University of Southern California, USAChungyoon Chun, Yonsei University, KoreaHeidi Creighton, Buro Happold Engineering, USAPaul Cooper, University of Wollongong, AustraliaJérôme Damiens, Tsinghua University, ChinaRichard de Dear, University of Sydney, AustraliaStephanie Gauthier, University of Southampton, UKRuna T. Hellwig, Aalborg University, DenmarkWenjie Ji, Tsinghua University, ChinaXinyu Jia, Tsinghua University, ChinaJungsoo Kim, University of Sydney, AustraliaSuhyun Kwon, Yonsei University, KoreaKyeongsuk Lee, University of Southern California, USA

Background: The diurnal profile of light-dark exposure influences individual circadian timing systems (CTS). The CTS co-governs myriad vital aspects of physiology from gene expression in cells to physiological functions at systems levels. Thus, light-dark exposures can affect health. Architecture and urbanization play a significant role in shaping human light-dark exposures. Aims: The first aim of this project is to determine if and how architecture and urbanization have been targeted in research concerning circadian light-dark exposures through a scoping review. The second aim is to determine if and how health-effects of architecture and urbanization-associated contributions to light-dark exposures have been investigated through a systematized review and synthesis of the literature regarding health effects. Methods: Four search engines covering 31 literature databases will be screened for relevant literature using a search string developed by our multi-disciplinary working group. The returned literature will be subject to initial title and abstract screening followed by full text screening to determine eligibility for inclusion in the final synthesis. Only articles that satisfy predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria at each stage will pass into subsequent screening stages. An initial quick screen targeting duplicates, non-English or non-German articles, and using targeted search phrases to remove obvious irrelevant literature will be performed by one member of the team to narrow the literature pool. Following this, each title and abstract will be independently screened by at least two persons from different institutes and research groups. Following this, each full text will be screened independently by at least two persons from different institutes and research groups. Full texts deemed eligible for inclusion in the final synthesis will be subject to critical appraisal and data extraction by at least two persons from different institutes. How architecture and urbanization have been targeted in research concerning circadian light-dark exposures and possibly associated health-effects in all studies will be synthesized.

Science Day 22, BLE Science Day, Aachen, Germany, 30 Jun 2022 - 30 Jun 2022; Aachen 1 Online-Ressource (214 Seiten) (2022)., Published by Aachen

Within the IEA EBC Annex 69 on Strategy and Practice of Adaptive Thermal Comfort in Low Energy Buildings (http://annex69.org/), we are conducting an international questionnaire study related to thermal comfort scales. Our objective is the analysis of influences on the perception of thermal comfort scales. In particular, we are looking at the effect of the current thermal state, peoples climatic background, and level of adaptation on the relationship between thermal sensation, thermal comfort, and thermal acceptance.

Within the IEA EBC Annex 69 on Strategy and Practice of Adaptive Thermal Comfort in Low Energy Buildings (http://annex69.org/), we are conducting an international questionnaire study related to thermal comfort scales. Our objective is the analysis of influences on the perception of thermal comfort scales. In particular, we are looking at the effect of the current thermal state, peoples climatic background, and level of adaptation on the relationship between thermal sensation, thermal comfort, and thermal acceptance.

Human environmental perception and occupant behaviour are driven by a multitude of factors, including demographics and preferences. The type and amount of information/data able to be collected is increasing manyfold in recent times and includes very personal data such as heart rate, skin temperature, and emotional reactions to the environmental conditions experienced. There are potential benefits, which may arise in getting access to such information/data for research on multi-domain influences, active interfaces and operation/control purposes. An important question regarding the availability of such data for building operation is the extent to which people are willing to share their personal information. With this project a discrete choice experiment is designed in order to reveal information on this question.

Within the IEA EBC Annex 69 on Strategy and Practice of Adaptive Thermal Comfort in Low Energy Buildings (http://annex69.org/), we are conducting an international questionnaire study related to thermal comfort scales. Our objective is the analysis of influences on the perception of thermal comfort scales. In particular, we are looking at the effect of the current thermal state, peoples climatic background, and level of adaptation on the relationship between thermal sensation, thermal comfort, and thermal acceptance.

This review table entails a collection of papers with relevance to the topic of occupants' role in buildings' energy performance gap.

Dieses Projekt sammelt bestehende und potentielle Maßnahmen, die es Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern erleichtern, die Folgen der Pandemie abzumildern. Beiträge und Diskussionen sind gerne willkommen. Wenn wir feststellen oder von anderen darauf hingewiesen werden, dass ein konkretes Angebot, zu dem wir einen Link bereitgestellt haben, eine zivil- oder strafrechtliche Verantwortlichkeit auslöst, werden wir den Verweis auf dieses Angebot aufheben.

Studies have focused on people’s physiological reactions to thermal conditions in indoor environments, neglecting the social consequences that could arise from them. Therefore, there is a gap in literature how these thermal comfort conditions could influence psychosocial aspects of our lives, such as how disconnected we feel from other people around us or how connected we feel with them, especially after being exposed to these conditions for many hours within an occupational context. This study attempted to address this gap in literature by exposing participants to two thermal conditions: a warm condition (28 ˚C) and a cool condition (21 ˚C) in a simulated office environment. The purpose of the study was to observe possible social consequences arising from a day at work under either of those conditions by focusing on social distance and empathy levels. 31 participants were recruited and exposed to both conditions, each condition at a different day (gap between days of at least one day for washout), and were asked to remain in the temperature-controlled environment for eight hours (between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.). Additionally, they were asked to complete a series of questionnaires, investigating their levels of social disconnection and empathy before and after both testing days. The temperature of the room was monitored throughout the process. The difference observed between pre- and post-measures for both conditions was not significantly different with regards to the feelings of social disconnection, despite the difference in responses observed within the raw data for each condition. In contrast, the difference observed in empathy levels between pre- and post-measures was significantly different between conditions. Individuals exposed to the cool condition reported lower levels of empathy after exposure, while participants exposed to the warm condition exhibited higher empathy levels after exposure. The results suggest that thermal conditions could influence people’s levels of empathy, which could have consequences both within a work environment and in private life. Further research is needed to support this. Implications of these outcomes and recommendations for further research are discussed., CLIMA 2022 conference, 2022: CLIMA 2022 The 14th REHVA HVAC World Congress

Thermal conditions experienced during daytime can be different from those experienced after working hours outdoors or at home. Since most dwellings in Central and Western Europe in the temperate climate zone are naturally ventilated (NV), while public spaces and offices are often air conditioned (AC), a substantial gap between daytime and evening thermal exposure can occur. This thermal gap likely reduces acclimation to the more ‘natural’ climate outdoors and in NV spaces, and therefore may affect thermoregulation and thermal perception. Structural information on how thermal conditions experienced during daytime (e.g. in offices) influence thermal perception and physiology in the evening (at people’s private homes). Therefore, the present study seeks to assess the impact of staying in cool vs. warm environments during daytime working hours on thermal perception and thermophysiology in the evening at home. In this hybrid laboratory and field study, 31 participants (41±17 years, BMI: 24±3 kg/m2) were exposed to a simulated workday in either 21 ˚C (cool) or 28 ˚C (warm) at two separate occasions. Thermal sensation, thermal preference and mean skin temperature were measured at eight timepoints throughout the day (lab) and evening (home) until the following morning. Preliminary results suggest that daytime thermal conditions affect people’s thermal perception and thermophysiology after working hours at home. The effect is most pronounced just after arriving at home and decreases over time. Importantly, our results raise the question whether conditioning of work places solely based on on-site productivity and comfort, but without considering the impact on comfort and well-being during leisure and recovery time at home, is the way to go in the future., CLIMA 2022 conference, 2022: CLIMA 2022 The 14th REHVA HVAC World Congress