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Desk fans allow individual thermal adjustment in shared spaces which increases occupants' thermal satisfaction. When associated with the increase of room conditioning system setpoint temperature, they can also reduce energy use. In comparison to other Personal Comfort Systems (PCS), low-power desk fans can be very efficient for cooling. Nevertheless, previous studies identify some barriers to their implementation and show no clear guidelines on how to overcome them. Therefore, this study presents the results of a field implementation of desk fans in an open office in Brazil. The intervention consisted of providing one desk fan for each occupant and progressively increasing the setpoint temperature. Indoor thermal conditions were recorded simultaneously with occupants' thermal perception using sensors and surveys. Results show fans increased thermal satisfaction by 20 %. And, when fans were available, the preferred indoor air temperature increased by 1 °C. However, many constraints affect the results. Based on this experience, we propose guidelines for future implementation. We emphasize the need to understand the HVAC system, engage building operators, and apply gradual temperature modification. As occupants’ expectations had a great impact on the potential temperature extension, we suggest a way to limit temperature extension in future implementations.

To improve occupant comfort and save energy in buildings, we have developed a closed-loop air conditioning (AC) sensor-controller that predicts occupant thermal sensation from the thermographic measurement of skin temperature distribution, then uses this information to reduce overcooling (cooling-energy overuse that discomforts occupants) by regulating AC output. Taking measures to protect privacy, it combines thermal-infrared (TIR) and color (visible spectrum) cameras with machine vision to measure the skin-surface temperature profile. Since the human thermoregulation system uses skin blood flow to maintain thermoneutrality, the distribution of skin temperature can be used to predict warm, neutral, and cool thermal states. We conducted a series of human-subject thermal-sensation trials in cold-to-hot environments, measuring skin temperatures and recording thermal sensation votes. We then trained random-forest classification machine-learning models (classifiers) to estimate thermal sensation from skin temperatures or skin-temperature differences. The estimated thermal sensation was input to a proportional integral (PI) control algorithm for the AC, targeting a sensation level between neutral and warm. Our sensor-controller includes a sensor assembly, server software, and client software. The server software orients the cameras and transmits images to the client software, which in turn assesses occupant skin temperature distribution, estimates occupant thermal sensation, and controls AC operation. A demonstration conducted in a conference room in an office building near Houston, TX showed that our system reduced overcooling, decreasing AC load by 42% when the room was occupied while improving occupant comfort (fraction of “comfortable” votes) by 15 percentage points.

Achieving thermal comfort in buildings while maintaining energy efficiency is a critical challenge in architecture and engineering design and operation. Traditional thermal comfort metrics used in the early stages of design tend to neglect two key aspects: spatial variability of thermal conditions within buildings and the promotion of passive design strategies over active conditioning systems. This oversight leads to localized discomfort, excessive energy use, and increased vulnerability to overheating. To address these issues, we propose a novel metric called spatial Thermal Autonomy (sTA). The primary advantage of sTA is its ability to capture spatial variability in thermal conditions, offering a more comprehensive view of comfort across different building zones. Additionally, sTA supports passive design by quantifying a building's capacity to maintain comfort without active energy use. We performed a simulation case study evaluating sTA for different thermal zone sizes, passive design levels, and climate scenarios. Our findings suggest that buildings with high spatial thermal autonomy tend to use less energy, demonstrate greater thermal resilience during extreme weather or power outages, and experience fewer local discomfort problems. Optimizing building designs for spatial Thermal Autonomy encourages passive design solutions in key decisions related to building form, envelope, conditioning strategies, and HVAC system design. In buildings with reduced heating and cooling loads, this approach supports the increased adoption of local low-energy personal comfort systems, such as fans or local heating solutions, and can lead to more adaptive, resilient, and comfortable indoor environments in a changing climate.

This study assessed the energy-saving and climate-adaptive potential of cool skin and ventilated cavity skin facade technologies in Seoul's high-rise apartment buildings. We created weather scenarios for historical, mid-term future, and long-term future conditions using Coordinated Regional Downscaling EXperiment (CORDEX) method. Building energy simulations were conducted on a South Korean high-rise apartment model to evaluate their performance under different weather conditions. The results indicate that cool skin and ventilated cavity skin technologies can save cooling energy during summers but lead to heating energy penalties in winters. Ventilated cavity skin outperforms cool skin, offering better cooling energy savings and reduced heating penalties. Combining both technologies yields the highest overall energy savings, with 7 %, 9 %, and 10 % cooling energy savings for cool skin, ventilated cavity skin, and the combined package, respectively. However, cool skin increases heating energy consumption by 5 %, while ventilated cavity skin has minimal impact on heating energy. These envelope technologies also reduce peak electricity demand by at least 5 %, 8 %, and 9 %, respectively. They contribute to heat stress reduction, enhance resilience, and decrease extreme heat risks for occupants during power outages by at least 18 % under various weather conditions. Considering the prevalence of aging high-rise apartments in South Korea, adopting these envelope renovation strategies can effectively reduce cooling loads, enhance thermal comfort, and boost resilience under future climates, while avoiding costly reconstruction.

To address the multifaceted aspects of indoor environmental sciences, this review paper critically investigates the optimization of thermal comfort and the development of heat-resilient indoor environments. Drawing on knowledge from a wide range of disciplines, such as chemistry, microbiology, public health, psychology, epidemiology, engineering, and toxicology, among others, it provides an extensive overview of recent study findings. The paper examines solutions targeted at reducing the negative impacts of heat stress while improving thermal comfort levels indoors, highlighting the complex link between indoor environment, human health, and comfort. Using both theoretical frameworks and actual data, the study assesses a variety of cutting-edge methods, such as behavioral interventions, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, passive design strategies, and adaptable building materials. The statement underscores the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation in tackling the intricate problems related to interior thermal comfort and resistance to heat waves. The review attempts to offer practical insights for practitioners and researchers looking to optimize interior settings for human health and well-being by looking at the synergistic impacts of several treatments. Additionally, the research emphasizes how crucial it is to consider the larger context of climate change and its effects on interior spaces. To improve our understanding of thermal comfort optimization and heat-resilient design techniques, it suggests new research directions and knowledge gaps and advocates for ongoing interdisciplinary inquiry. In the end, the review adds to the continuing conversation about designing livable, sustainable, and healthful interior spaces in the face of changing weather patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor thermal comfort is a crucial factor for occupant productivity and energy-related behavior in workspaces. Recent studies have shown that non-thermal factors, such as interior design elements, can also affect human thermal perception. A novel experimental methodology is introduced to identify these factors, consisting of two steps: (i) representing an office environment using Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Virtual Reality (VR) tools and (ii) evaluating users' perceptions in the reproduced virtual environment. Indeed, VR enables the creation of fully customizable and immersive scenarios, allowing individuals to experience lifelike sensations and provide real-time feedback on their comfort level. One hundred subjects were interviewed about their comfort and productivity perception in 12 different VR scenes with specific design parameters. Results show that natural lighting and windows with tall and narrow proportions improve occupants' thermal comfort and perceived productivity. Multilevel regression analysis shows that these predictors have a bigger impact on productivity than on thermal sensation. Implementing this methodology in the early-stage design of workspaces may lead to effective strategies for increasing employee satisfaction and productivity. Additionally, retrofitting buildings based on occupants' thermal perceptions can optimize energy use by reducing the demand on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. This approach allows for reduced runtimes without compromising occupant comfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal comfort is crucial for indoor environmental quality, impacting occupant well-being and intellectual productivity. Despite the widespread use of HVAC technologies in residential and commercial buildings, there is growing awareness of thermal comfort, leading to more studies on this issue. According to international publication indexes nearly 60% of publications belongs to the categories of construction building technology, energy fuels, and civil engineering. It should also be noted that 40% of world energy consumption pertains to construction sector. In this context, radiant cooling and heating systems come forward with their low exergy destruction rates pointing out the potential to be energy-efficient due to their higher and lower operation temperatures. Displacement ventilation, with its low heating and cooling capacity, has not gained widespread preference. However, the increasing consciousness of global warming and energy efficiency, along with the fear of airborne virus contamination, views stand-alone or hybrid applications of radiant heating/cooling and displacement ventilation as potential future solutions. This review study investigates the impact of radiant heating/cooling and ventilation types, mixing, and displacement on thermal comfort performance, focusing on factors affecting thermal comfort in trending radiant cooling and heating applications like radiant walls, ceilings, and floors. The study emphasizes the importance of considering occupant preferences, building characteristics, and energy efficiency when choosing the most suitable heating and cooling systems for different indoor environments. Stand-alone and hybrid applications of radiant heating/cooling and displacement systems can enhance thermal comfort performance, with the exception of specific cases requiring a high thermal load or ventilation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitigating Urban Heat Island (UHI) intensity in cities through adaptative strategies has become an urgent need, as UHI are also exacerbated by climate change impacts imputable to anthropogenic actions. This study addresses the need for reliable simulation models to analyze outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) in future or alternative scenarios. The aim of the present study is to contribute to the validation of CFD urban microclimate simulations by employing intra-urban canyon transects as an alternative or a complementary approach to fixed stations. To accomplish this, we developed a cost-effective monitoring unit to carry out transects on a pre-defined route (1), devised the area of interest (2), elaborated a simulation model in ENVI-met (3), and proposed different validation methods for comparative analyses (4). Results indicate that temporal validated simulation tended to underestimate thermal indices in the morning and night and overestimate them in the afternoon, while spatio-temporal validation under a human-centric comfort approach via wearable sensing notably improved accuracy. Moderate to very strong agreement between simulation and measurement data in summer (Willmot's d ~ 0.70, d ~ 0.81) and very strong agreement in winter (d ~ 0.79, d ~ 0.96), with low error magnitudes in summer (RMSE ~ 0.91℃ and 9.59%, MBE ~ 0.23℃ and 9.10%) have been found. In winter, such figures were RMSE ~ 0.71℃ and 3.51%, MBE ~ 0.00℃ and 0.98%, for the spatio-temporal validated model. This research contributes to enhancing the reliability of relatively affordable CFD urban microclimate simulations, supporting its scale up for policymakers in implementing effective strategies for OTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure time to heat is increasing with climate change. Heat exposure thresholds are important to inform heat early warning systems, and legislation and guidance for safety in the workplace. It has already been stated that thresholds can be lower for vulnerable groups, including the elderly, pregnant women, children, and those with pre-existing medical conditions due to their reduced ability to thermoregulate their temperature or apply cooling strategies. However, the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) proposed by the international standard organisation (ISO 7243:2017), only takes into account thresholds based on acclimatization status. Therefore in this study we carried out a PRISMA systematic keyword search of "Wet Bulb Globe Temperature" of the Scopus abstract and citation database in August 2023 and a meta-analysis of text extracted from the identified 913 international studies published between December 1957 and July 2023, to investigate heat stress thresholds for different population groups. We find that different thresholds are considered as an indication of heat stress for different population groups. However, critical gaps were identified for the most vulnerable populations, and there are lower numbers of studies on women. Most studies researched adult populations between the ages of 18 and 55 (n = 491), failing to include the youngest and oldest members of society. Based on these findings, we call for targeted investigations to inform effective heat action policies and set early warning thresholds to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the entire population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces an improved Ski Climate Index (SCI) designed to assess skiing suitability in China by applying fuzzy logic. Using daily meteorological data from 733 weather stations for the periods 1961–1990 and 1991–2020, the study identifies significant changes in SCI distribution over time. Additionally, a coupled analysis is performed, integrating the SCI results with the distribution and spatial vitality of 389 ski resorts in China. This analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between actual ski resources and the ongoing evolution of the skiing industry in China and three significant results:1) The snow module has a major impact on SCI distribution, while other non-snow natural elements, such as sunshine duration, wind speed, and thermal comfort, influence the overall SCI assessment less; 2) High SCI values are concentrated in Northwestern and Northeastern China, with increased ski climate resources being observed in Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia, Southwest Tibet, and Sichuan due to climate change and noticeable declines in the Southern regions of Northeast China.; 3) In terms of the distribution and vitality of ski resorts, the SCI also partially reflects the development of ski resorts. This skiing suitability model uses climate resources to offer valuable insights for key decision-making in resort development and operation, thereby supporting advancement of the ice-snow economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to design a local ventilation system (LVS) to help reduce the moisture content of a Scalder hall, evaluate its comfort and thermal stress before and after implementation of LVS and introduce an appropriate index to evaluate warm and humid workplaces. The design of the LVS was performed according to the ACGIH standard (VS-30-01). Heat stress and thermal comfort assessment were performed before and after LVS using humidity index (Humidex), discomfort index (DI), heat index (HI), wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and predicted mean vote index (PMV) indices and the results were compared with predicted mean vote index-predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PMV-PPD) subjective indices. The results of heat stress parameters showed that LVS was able to reduce relative humidity (RH) and wet temperature (tnw) by 47% and 7 ° C, respectively. This has caused subjects to feel the heat from hot and very RH hot to warm and the hot and percentage of dissatisfaction has dropped by more than 70%. Design and implementation of a LVS reduced the ambient tnw by decreasing RH. Results also showed in warm and humid workplaces, DI index are highly correlated with subjective evaluation of thermal comfort and this index can be used to evaluate the thermal conditions of the workplaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. Heat stress (HS) is one of the pivotal causes of economic losses in dairy industries and affects welfare and performance, but its effect on milk microbiota remains elusive. It is also unclear if and how different breeds may cope with HS in sustaining productive performance. The objectives of this study were to compare (1) the performance of 2 dairy breeds, namely Holstein and Brown Swiss, subjected to HS and (2) the different effects of HS on the milk microbiota of the 2 breeds in thermal comfort conditions and HS. The study was carried out on 36 dairy cows, 18 per breed. The HS was induced by switching off the cooling system during a natural heat wave for 4 d. In addition to the temperature-humidity index, animal stress was confirmed by measuring respiratory frequency and rectal temperature twice daily at 0400 h and 1500 h. The HS affected the 2 breeds differently. The rectal temperature increased with HS in both breeds. Milk yield recording and sampling were performed during the morning milking of d 1 (at 0400 h) and afternoon milking of d 4 (at 1700 h). Productive parameters were also different: milk yield, FCM, ECM, protein and casein content, and renneting parameters were decreased in Holstein cows but remained unaffected in Brown Swiss cows. The HS also modified the milk microbiota of the 2 breeds differently. During HS, the Brown Swiss cows had milk microbiota that was richer (α diversity) than that of the Holstein cows. Comparing the time points before and during HS within breeds showed that Brown Swiss cow milk microbiota was less affected by HS than Holstein cow milk microbiota. Under the same thermal comfort condition, milk microbiota did not discriminate between Brown Swiss and Holstein. Consistently with α and β diversity, the number of operational taxonomic units (OTU) at the genus level that changed their abundance during HS was higher in Holstein (74 OTU) than in Brown Swiss (only 20 OTU). The most significant changes in abundance affected Acinetobacter , Chryseobacterium , Cutibacterium , Enterococcus , Lactococcus , Prevotella-9 , Serratia , and Streptococcus. In conclusion, the present report confirms and extends previous studies by demonstrating that Brown Swiss cows regulate their body temperature better than the Holstein breed. The relative thermal tolerance to HS compared with Holstein cows is also confirmed by changes in milk uncultured microbiota, which were more evident in Holstein cows than in Brown Swiss cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate and climatic factors influence live creatures and their activities. Climatic design is a method for coping with challenging climatic conditions and creating comfort. Indeed, architectural design can be done by utilizing data related to climatic conditions and the thermal needs of the desired location. Hence, the current study presented strategies for architectural design based on climatic zoning and indices of thermal comfort in Qazvin city. The study data were obtained through library research and documents, analyzing and combining the data, and by applying an experimental-analytical method. Some compatible climate strategies and measuring thermal comfort indices were presented (based on data from Qazvin Meteorological Organization until 2017). TCIC software was used to calculate thermal comfort indices. Considering that Qazvin climate is cold-arid and according to the analysis of thermal comfort indices in different months, building heating has been paid more attention to rather than cooling in architectural design. Different strategies in this area and methods to gain maximum benefit from climatic facilities (in Qazvin) in other parts of a building have been presented in the suggested tables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Sleepwear and bedding materials can affect sleep quality by influencing the skin and body temperature and thermal comfort. This review systematically evaluates the impact of sleepwear or bedding of different fibre types on sleep quality. A systematic search was conducted in six data bases plus Google Scholar and manual searches. Original articles that compared human sleep quality between at least two fibre types of bedding or sleepwear were included, resulting in nine eligible articles included in the review. The fibre types included cotton, polyester, wool, and blended materials for sleepwear; cotton, duck down, goose down, polyester and wool for duvet; and linen and a combination of cotton and polyester for bedding. The interplay between fibre materials and sleep quality is complex. Blended sleepwear demonstrated potential benefits for specific populations. Wool sleepwear showed benefits for sleep onset in adults (cool conditions) and in older adults (warm conditions). Linen bedsheets improved sleep quality under warm conditions in young adults. Goose down‐filled duvets increased slow‐wave sleep under cool conditions in young adults. However, a systematic comparison of fibre types is challenging due to the diverse nature of the studies evaluating sleep quality. Further research employing standardised methodologies with standard fibre samples in different populations and in different temperature conditions is imperative to elucidate comprehensively the effects of fibre choices on sleep quality. Despite the limitations and heterogeneity of the included studies, this analysis offers valuable insights for individuals seeking to optimise their sleep experiences and for manufacturers developing sleep‐related products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the impact of cold and heat conditions on manual performance during maneuverability exercises in powerchair football players. Ten volunteers with heterogeneous pathologies engaged in FIPFA competitions participated in the study. The assessments consisted of answering a survey, carrying out a computer maneuverability path before and after immersion of upper limb in cold water (8 °C); before and after exposure to heat (hair-dryer). The skin temperature (hand and forearm) perceptive scales (thermal sensation and comfort, effort, pain) were also measured. Conditions did not significantly impact mean test result (Heat = +5.3 boxes; Cold = −6.3 boxes; NS) but some subject were highly impacted with cold condition. A slight downward trend was observed for the cold and a slight upward for the heat. The cold and heat influenced the both hand and forearm skin temperature, the thermal sensation and the thermal comfort of the players in contrast to the perception of effort and pain (hand after Heat = +5.9°3.9 °C, hand after Cold = −11°1.4 °C; forearm after Heat = +1.9°1.0 °C, forearm after Cold = −0.6°0.7 °C; P < 0.05). The results suggest that individually, cold condition might affect negatively manual dexterity and performance of some powerchair football players. To put athletes in best playing environment conditions, the instance of powerchair football need to legislate for a minimal ambient temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uneven heating of the human body in the cabin is one of the main reasons for poor thermal comfort. In this study, five small thermoelectric cooling devices were used to build the automobile localized air conditioning system to improve body temperature uniformity by the method of multi-point air supply. The cooling capacity of each thermoelectric cooling device can be changed independently so the localized air conditioning could work with a non-isothermal jet air supply method to optimize each thermoelectric cooling device outlet temperature based on thermal simulation analysis results aimed at better body heat flux balance and lower power consumption. The air temperature and skin temperature test were done to verify the simulation as well. The maximum deviation of the predicted stable air temperature was 0.82 ℃. The maximum deviation of the predicted skin temperature was 1.83 ℃. The subjective evaluation experiment of human thermal comfort was carried out, and the average overall thermal comfort vote of the volunteers was changed from 1.02 to − 0.44 after the localized air condition turning on, which showed that the temperature adjustment had a good effect on improving the heat balance and the thermal comfort of the human body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst the prevailing subjective pricing paradigms for high-rise apartments in India, this paper advocates for a paradigm shift toward thermal comfort–based differential pricing, recognizing its pivotal role in influencing residents' well-being in hot and humid climates and energy savings. Understanding the correlation between thermal comfort, floor level, and orientation can lead to implementing such pricing strategies. Three models are proposed through market surveys and simulations, incorporating thermal comfort and other existing market preferences using Hedonic regression and two models using the analytic hierarchy process. The comparison reveals that Model 1, based on buyers' preferences, yields a 0.72% mean improvement in the total sale price, Model 2, focused on thermal comfort, sees a mean increase of 0.86%, and Model 3, incorporating both thermal comfort and buyer preferences, results in a mean increase of 2.22%. The study emphasizes the significance of a multicriteria-based pricing model for high-rise apartments with thermal comfort as the focus, highlighting its flexibility to accommodate diverse criteria and determine suitable differential prices by adjusting percentage priorities based on specific requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focuses on schools due to their significant energy consumption. It explores the use of well-designed unshaded courtyards as a passive design strategy in hot climate regions, an area that has received limited attention. The research methodology combines a qualitative approach, case study, and computer simulations through ENVI-met and Integrated Environmental Solutions Virtual Environment (IESve) software. The case study involves an existing school building in the hot arid climate of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The ENVI-met software evaluates changes in the school's microclimate and building temperature resulting from modifications to the courtyard's design, encompassing five phases. Moreover, the research employs the predicted mean vote (PMV) metric to assess outdoor thermal comfort within school courtyards, correlating with the five design phases. The IESve software assesses the reduction in cooling sensible load achieved through improved courtyard design in the case study. The simulation results demonstrate that the optimal courtyard design lowers the school building's temperature by 1.9°C and 1.7°C on September 21 and March 21, respectively, compared with the base case. Furthermore, it enhances PMV within the courtyard, providing students with a more comfortable outdoor environment during breaks, with maximum PMV reductions of 1.2 and 1.1 on September 21 and March 21. In addition, the optimal courtyard design achieves a significant reduction in cooling sensible load, showing a 19% decrease on September 21 and a 27% decrease on March 21, compared with the basic case. These findings underscore the potential of well-designed courtyards to enhance thermal comfort and energy efficiency in schools within hot arid climates, contributing to sustainable architectural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal comfort and environmental quality in buildings are critical factors in achieving Sustainable Development Goals related to health, energy efficiency, and sustainable constructions. The present paper aims to establish a scientific framework for sustainable construction, focusing both on the thermal comfort and indoor/outdoor quality of the air. With the average person spending 87% of their day indoors, understanding thermal comfort, defined as the subjective experience of a satisfactory thermal environment, is essential. Two primary models, the stable model and the adaptive model, are employed to analyze thermal comfort, accounting for various factors such as ambient temperature, air circulation, and individual differences. This study uses bibliometric analysis and scientific mapping to evaluate 14,179 articles from the Web of Science database indexed in the last 4 years (2020/2024). Current findings indicate a significant interest in this topic, with China and the USA leading in research output. The study reveals a strong focus on improving thermal comfort through innovative materials, mixed-mode ventilation, and vegetation integration in urban environments. Additionally, there is a notable emphasis on the air quality' s influence on human health. Present analysis underscores the international collaboration implications, highlighting strong links between major research countries. This comprehensive bibliometric study provides insightful observations about the field's prospects and existing trends, highlighting the necessity of ongoing research and interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance thermal comfort and environmental quality in sustainable construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the role of wind in shaping traditional Iranian architecture across three distinct climatic zones: cold mountainous (Hajij), hot desert (Yazd), and humid coastal (Rasht) with a focus on passive cooling and natural ventilation techniques. By examining the effects of wind on urban layouts, building orientation, and material selection, the research highlights architectural features such as windcatchers, courtyards, and insulation techniques that enhance thermal comfort across diverse environments. The study employs a comparative approach, analysing architectural adaptations like compact layouts and windbreaks in mountainous regions, and windcatchers and open courtyards in desert areas, illustrating how vernacular architecture aligns with each climate's challenges. Using a combination of EnergyPlus simulations, field observations, and quantitative climate data, this research validates the efficiency of these traditional methods in moderating indoor temperatures, reducing energy demands, and providing sustainable comfort solutions. Comparative tables demonstrate the architectural adaptations across Rasht, Yazd, and Hajij, with metrics on urban density, building orientation, and material thermal properties. The findings underscore the enduring relevance of these ancient strategies in modern sustainable design, offering valuable insights for energy efficient, climate-responsive urban planning that minimises reliance on mechanical systems. By re-evaluating these indigenous cooling strategies, the study advocates for an integrated approach that merges local knowledge with modern sustainability practices, fostering resilience in architectural design for varied climatic contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ever since its discovery in the last century, global warming has always held a dominant position in international discourse. The worsening of the global climate, largely attributed to the growing intensity of human activity since the Industrial Revolution, has pushed every nation on earth to regulate its consumption and footprint to better preserve the planet and its resources for upcoming generations. Through a case study of Rabat, this paper focuses on the Urban Heat Islands phenomenon (a notorious effect of climate change) via the lenses of architecture and urban planning. It analyzes first the influence linking these fields: Urban Heat Island, planning, and architecture. Then, it identifies the specific elements and parameters of the city that have a direct impact on its climatic comfort. The current climate of Rabat is then analyzed through a series of maps created with QGIS using freely available satellite data, all while taking into account the points of impact discovered earlier. The Moroccan capital, despite its coastal nature, is still a victim of the climatic woes experienced by other cities of its size. This anthropogenic heat, compounded with the sub-desert and desert influences coming from the south of the country, makes for intense climatic discomfort during heat waves, particularly in the denser districts of the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with traditional convection air conditioning, the radiant cooling (RC) system has higher energy-saving potential and better comfort. At present, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is one of the most advanced methods to optimize the design of indoor radiant terminals. However, this method requires to discretize the design domain in advance. If the geometric division is rough, the accuracy of the optimized results will be too low. To improve the accuracy of the calculation results, the geometric division needs to be refined, but it will greatly increase the calculation load. For each new geometric model, users need to determine a reasonable geometric division every time, which is very time consuming. To solve that problem, this investigation proposed a parameterized level set method (PLSM) to inversely design the area, shape, and locations of the radiant terminal. It not only does not need to discretize the design domain in advance, but also can realize the continuous topological change of the radiant terminal region. The results show that the PLSM can realize the continuous topological transformation of geometric shapes, and the final result of the average absolute value of PMV (∣PMV∣avg) around the occupants achieved 0.066. To enhance the practical application of the optimized results, K-means cluster analysis is used to regularize the shape of the radiation terminal region. The corresponding average ∣PMV∣ around the occupants is 0.102, which is also within an acceptable range. All in all, PLSM can be used to inversely design the RC systems, which provides an effective design method for realizing accurate control of the indoor environment using the RC systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the plateau, symmetrical (WDS) and asymmetrical (WLS) dressing habits have been developed to adapt to the extreme climate of the plateau, which is characterized by large temperature variations. Few studies have investigated the impact of these dressing styles on the heat loss and thermal comfort of the Xizang people. To better characterize these impacts, models representing local heat loss of human are developed, and human heat loss experiments are conducted on the plateau. The results showed that the WLS increased the total heat loss of the participants by a range between 7.2 % and 25.7 % compared to the WDS; however, WLS narrowed the range of localized heat loss and reset the distribution of heat loss intensity. Adopting the WLS, the localized convection and radiation heat loss reported in the right sleeve was higher than that of the WDS by a range of 3.1 to 12.5 W/m2 and 5.2 to 22.5 W/m2, respectively. Also, the results of thermal neutral temperature of the participants increased by 2 °C when the WLS was utilized. Focusing on the distribution of heat loss to achieve localized insulation through clothing thermal regulation is an effective strategy to achieve human thermal comfort and energy savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal environment may affect sleep quality and sleeping thermal comfort at the same time. Up to now, there is no direct evidence or physiological theory can prove the idea that thermal comfort equal to good sleep quality, but how to balance the relationship between them is often ignored when designing thermal environment. This review took body temperature distribution as a bridge for the connection of sleep quality and sleeping thermal comfort. At first, we reviewed the quantitative relationships among thermal environment, body temperature, sleep quality and sleeping thermal comfort, and then based on the idea of reverse derivation, a recommended design process for bedroom thermal environment was proposed. Each step of the process corresponded to the impact mechanism described above. The review results showed that, body temperature distribution was closely related to both sleep quality and thermal comfort, and thus it was suitable to be used as a bridge between them; body temperatures fluctuated dynamically during sleep, and thus heat transfer and thermal regulation models should be used to describe them; most current sleep researches regarded skin temperature as the representative value of body temperature distribution, yet core body temperature needs to be paid more attention on in the future because it was more closely related to sleep rhythm; furthermore, in addition to young people, subjects of more age groups should be tested to enrich China's sleep research database. In general, it's theoretically possible to guarantee both sleep quality and sleeping thermal comfort, and this review can be used as a reliable reference for bedroom thermal environment design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal comfort is critical for ensuring the health and productivity of occupants and knowing their thermal demand could help creat a satisfying environment with the least energy waste. Theory of thermal comfort is built based on experimental studies in uniform and stable environments, while there is still a gap when applying in evaluating human thermal comfort in non-uniform thermal environments. Therefore, an insight into human thermal comfort in non-uniform thermal environments is taken. The fundamental studies of thermal comfort in non-uniform thermal environments are explicated, including thermal comfort theory applied in non-uniform thermal environments, types of non-uniform thermal environments and corresponding studies, physiological and psychological thermal responses in the environments. Besides, the evaluation indices of non-uniform thermal environments are classified according to their definitions and the comfort models are reviewed. Finally, future works in this research field are discussed. In general, the overall thermal comfort and local thermal comfort should be both taken into account in non-uniform thermal environments where skin temperatures and psychological thermal responses of occupants are different among local body segments. Moreover, as studies of local thermal comfort are mainly conducted in thermally neutral condition, the limits considering the state deviating thermal neutrality (slightly warm or cool), which is frequently found in reality, are encouraged to be studied. Finally, a well-defined comprehensive index should be proposed considering heat exchange of human body with their microenvironments and thus the comfort range of the index could be provided for designing of non-uniform thermal environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparative study on the thermal comfort of traditional and contemporary houses in Byblos, Lebanon. With climate change affecting indoor environments and potentially leading to increased energy consumption, achieving optimal thermal comfort is a crucial issue for building research. The study analyzes several environmental parameters and conducts an occupancy survey to assess thermal comfort in both types of houses. The questionnaire used in the survey consists of 46 questions divided into three parts: "Who are you? ", "The environment of your house? ", and "Architectural characteristics of the house. " The results show that traditional houses perform better than contemporary ones in terms of thermal comfort, due to their use of natural and passive methods. However, both types of houses have room for improvement in terms of energy efficiency. This study provides insights into potential solutions for improving indoor thermal comfort while reducing energy consumption in traditional and contemporary houses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to evaluate the capabilities and limitations of climate parameters in Shiraz's urban design and architecture with a focus on energy management. For this purpose, Climate Consultant software was used; this software can display and graphically examine climatic features and uses a strong and documented database called EPW in the time step of long-term hourly averages for radiation data, dry temperature, soil temperature at different depths, relative humidity, and wind speed and direction. Determining the level of comfort and providing energy-saving strategies in different climate zones are among the important capabilities of this tool. The results showed that the months of January, February, and December are completely outside the range of thermal comfort, and the most comfortable conditions are in the radiation range of 800 to 900 W/m2 with a temperature range of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. According to the psychometric chart, 10.1% of the hours of the year are in complete comfort conditions, and reaching comfort conditions in other hours and days of the year requires the use of different strategies. The ideal thickness for the mass of the walls is estimated to be 4 to 5 inches with optimal materials (brick, concrete, and stone), and it is better for the mass of the inner wall to be denser than the outer wall. It is very convenient to use massive structures with small holes that perform night ventilation. Ceiling fans can reduce indoor temperature by at least 2.8 degrees Celsius. Flat roofs with light colors are the most suitable option, and in designs with courtyards, the presence of small ponds is very effective in cooling the adjacent rooms. Interior spaces and doors can be used to promote natural cross-ventilation. Also, to protect privacy, the design of air-flow jump channels can be used. By shading the windows in line with the direction of the prevailing wind, natural ventilation can reduce or even eliminate the need for cooling facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of phase change materials (PCMs) into building structures has become a focal point for researchers aiming to enhance thermal comfort and energy efficiency in buildings. This comprehensive article delves into the analysis of PCMs embedded in room walls, emphasizing their role in thermal regulation and the innovative application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in evaluating their performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indoor air quality in bedrooms is one of the main factors that influence the human performance during these days. Throughout the years, a lot of studies described the relation between the climate comfort and the performance. This study presents the important factors to have a quality sleep with the main effect being daily productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to alleviate the thermal‐moisture comfort (TMC) of phase change material (PCM) thermal protective clothing, while simultaneously enhancing thermal protective performance (TPP) by a drip molding process. Nine types of PCM dripped fabrics were prepared by the drip molding process and served as comfort layers of thermal protective clothing. The TMC and TPP of the fabric systems were measured. A new method was proposed to balance the TMC and TPP of thermal protective clothing. The results demonstrated that the drip molding process marginally weakened the TMC while substantially enhancing the TPP of fabric systems. But the TMCs of the PCM dripped fabrics were far larger than the PCM coated fabric. Specifically, an increase in droplet diameter led to a decline in TMC and an improvement in TPP, whereas an increase in droplet interval resulted in an enhancement in TMC and a decrease in TPP. The findings obtained in this study can be used to engineer fabric systems that provide better protection for heat stress and skin burns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indoor comfort of occupied buildings has become essential, as it significantly affects the productivity and health of occupants. This review provides a comprehensive overview of air and thermal comfort studies in residential buildings using alternative materials. This study aims to provide the trends and the state of the research in this field, to summarize the optimization methods, and to offer a perspective on future studies. The results demonstrate that in comparison to traditional air conditioning systems, natural ventilation systems, and air purifying plants have the potential to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in buildings by up to 60%. Also, cross-laminated timber (CLT) buildings can achieve energy savings of up to 30% compared to conventional buildings due to their superior insulation properties and reduced thermal bridging. This review has provided highlights to help the building owners to promote a healthier environment, reduce energy consumption and achieve more comfortable indoor air quality. The study promotes incorporating innovative materials and use of natural ventilation systems, smart air conditioning systems and air purifying plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Understanding the interaction between breeder age and environmental stressors, such as cold, is crucial for poultry production. Previous research has highlighted the impact of these factors on chick development, but there is limited information on how breeder age specifically influences stress resilience and growth performance in broilers, particularly under suboptimal conditions. Aims: The study aimed to assess the impact of broiler breeder age and 8-h exposure to cold stress on chicks during the first 7 days of rearing. Methods: A total of 600 male chicks from two Cobb flocks were divided into groups based on breeder age (29 or 42 weeks) and rearing temperature (thermoneutral or cold-stressed for 8 h/day during the first week). Key results: Chicks from 42-week-old breeders exhibited faster yolk sac absorption under thermal comfort conditions (P < 0.05). Corticosterone levels were higher in chicks from 29-week-old breeders exposed to cold stress (P < 0.05). Cold-exposed birds showed elevated heterophil/lymphocyte ratios regardless of breeders' age (P < 0.05). Feed intake and weight gain were superior in birds from 42-week-old breeders up to 35 days, whereas cold stress negatively impacted the feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). Viability was lower in chicks from 29-week-old breeders and those subjected to cold stress (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Although cold stress did not affect weight gain at 35 days, it impaired the feed conversion ratio. Moreover, chicks from 29-week-old breeders were more susceptible to cold stress during the first week of life compared with those from 42-week-old breeders. Implications: The study reveals that breeder age significantly influences chick resilience to cold stress, with older breeders (42-week-old) producing more robust offspring. The findings suggest that optimizing the management of thermal conditions is critical for enhancing feed efficiency, growth performance and overall viability in broiler production. Cold stress during the first week of rearing negatively impacted broiler chicks from 29-week-old breeders compared with 42-week-old breeders, leading to higher corticosterone levels, and reduced yolk sac absorption and crop filling. Chicks from 42-week-old breeders showed better overall performance, with higher body weight and feed intake regardless of environmental temperature. The study highlights the importance of maintaining thermal comfort for optimal chick development, particularly that from younger breeder flocks, to mitigate stress, and improve viability and growth performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a review of advances made in evaporative cooling technologies, emphasizing their application in indoor thermal comfort. It highlights that the rising demand for cooling has primarily been met by conventional mechanical vapor compression systems. However, these systems face two significant issues: high electrical energy requirements and the use of refrigerants like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which contribute to ozone layer depletion and global warming. The findings indicate that evaporative cooling technology is a promising alternative due to its low energy demand and potential to integrate renewable energy, therefore enhancing its environmental benefits. The study also details various evaporative cooling technologies, recent improvements in their performance, practical applications, challenges, and opportunities for providing indoor thermal comfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pressure differences in the envelope of a building result in leakage airflow (i.e., the unintended flow of air). This can lead to increased building heating and cooling energy, decreased thermal comfort for occupants, and the spread of moisture. To address this problem, it is necessary to know the leakage airflow in a building. Generally, the leakage airflow in a building is calculated by determining the leakage function through fan pressurization methods, such as the blower door test, and substituting the pressure difference measured by the pressure sensor. However, it is difficult to install continuous pressure sensors in an operating building. Therefore, this study proposes a method to utilize the supply and return airflow of an air conditioning system to predict the variation in the leakage airflow with changing indoor and outdoor airflow, and the efficacy of this approach was verified through experiments. The experiment measured the indoor and outdoor pressure difference of the building with a change in the speed of the supply and return fans and the opening rate of the variable air volume (VAV) damper. As a result of the experiment, the indoor–outdoor pressure difference is proportional to the difference between the indoor supply airflow and the ventilation airflow. In addition, the relationship between the pressure difference and the leakage airflow was derived through the pressurization/decompression method using an air handler, and the leakage airflow from the pressure difference generated by the operation of the air conditioning system was calculated. Lastly, the relationship between the supply and return airflow difference and the leakage airflow was derived based on the experimental results, and the leakage airflow was predicted based on the relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban heat islands (UHI), which are exacerbated by climate change, significantly increase heat stress, particularly affecting vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and children. This study evaluates the effectiveness of various urban heat mitigation technologies, including cooling fog systems, cool roofs (reflective paint), shading structures, and small water paths, in reducing temperatures and enhancing thermal comfort. Field tests were conducted from 2021 to 2023 across Gimhae-si, Yechun-gun, Geyang-gu, and Sangju-si, with support from the Korean Ministry of Environment. The results demonstrated that cooling fog systems provided immediate temperature reductions, lowering ambient temperatures by up to 3.1 °C, while cool roofs reduced surface temperatures by 2–3 °C. Shading structures reduced surface temperatures by up to 10 °C, and small water paths cooled air temperatures by up to 1.5 °C, also increasing humidity and improving thermal comfort. The findings suggest that a combination of these technologies can effectively mitigate urban heat stress, especially in areas with vulnerable populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor indoor air quality in maternity hospitals can spread respiratory diseases; however, limited research exists on modifiable factors like occupant behavior. This study explores subjective drivers of window-opening in maternity wards, using surveys and on-site measurements. Results show 71.4% of respondents stay less than 14 days, leading to dynamic and irregular window behavior. Comfort, particularly thermal comfort, air quality, and circulation, is the main driver for window operations. Especially at low temperatures, pregnant women's comfort plays a critical role, while other factors increase in importance as temperatures rise. The results show that environmental factors drive window-opening, while indoor comfort drives closing. Occupants are more tolerant to humidity than thermal discomfort, but window adjustments are random. Moreover, respondents prioritize others' needs in closing windows, where outdoor noise often serves as a key factor. The time also had a greater impact on both window opening and closing decisions, while field measurements confirm that time influences window-opening more than closing. A Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) analysis of the questionnaire data for 'comfortable sensation' showed that only 'air circulation' and 'air humidity' were correlated with comfort, whilst 'heat sensation' was the least correlated. The possible reason is that the questionnaire was conducted in the spring, when temperatures were within the comfort range, and therefore, occupants were more concerned with other factors. Window operations in maternity wards are a collective strategy for natural ventilation. This study shows that the factors affecting window use in maternity hospitals are different from other buildings, providing useful ideas for improving maternity ward design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to current studies, the thermal effects of global warming will affect urban areas more intensely. In the face of this situation, strategies for the improvement and management of urban green spaces are becoming increasingly important in sustainable landscape design. These strategies promote social sustainability by positively affecting individuals' physical and psychological well-being, taking into consideration ecological sustainability. Projections regarding global warming emphasize that the density of hardscapes and green spaces, the selection of plant species, and the distribution of plants considered within the scope of this study should be taken into account. This research was conducted in the Görükle neighborhood of Bursa, focusing on the role of temperature-regulating elements in 14 neighborhood parks. Systematic temperature measurements were carried out in the research area on the 10th, 20th, and 30th of July and August, specifically between 12:00 and 13:00, during peak temperature hours. The presence of parks that are close to each other and relatively far away from each other in the study area was seen as advantageous to filter the effects of plant differences in similar conditions. Furthermore, evaluating these various factors together highlights the multifaceted nature of thermal comfort. Designated temperature measurement points included three points (hard surfaces and hard surfaces surrounded by vegetation and planted green spaces) in each park. An analysis utilizing SPSS and the RayMan program revealed that parks with a softscape to hardscape ratio of approximately two to one experienced temperature reductions of 2.5 to 3 °C. Furthermore, the findings indicate that coniferous trees have a more significant impact on thermal comfort compared to deciduous trees. The significant differences identified in this study underscore essential considerations for urban design processes aimed at achieving sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of energy poverty is a vast and complex one warranting extensive research. During the XX century, numerous research articles, books, and documents were published with the aim of defining energy poverty, measuring it, and proposing solutions to tackle it. The phenomenon of energy poverty can be studied using a variety of research methods, including the usual economic and econometric analyses, as well as energy policy. Research can also be conducted on the measurement of energy poverty and its social and health impact on disadvantaged communities. This can be explored in depth within specific subject areas, such as engineering, energy, environmental science, and social science. This brief review of literature focuses on energy poverty and poor buildings, thermal comfort, and the phenomenon of cooling poverty. The aim of this brief literature review is to show to a young researcher a previous framework and, through some keywords, that it is useful to drive future research using keywords. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]