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For full text, please follow the following link: https://sciencetrends.com/an-analysis-of-occupant-responses-to-transitions-across-indoor-thermal-zones/

This text was compiled with intention to help researchers beginning on their path towards studying thermal comfort using mixed methods approaches. I hope to receive feedback on the content and modify it based upon reader recommendations for the benefits of future readers as well.

Prohibitive equipment cost and certain export regulations are the major obstacles to the widespread adoption of infrared (IR) thermography when evaluating building envelopes. In this work, we propose the use of an affordable and easily available camera as a first step of making the technology accessible. Combined with image post-processing, we hypothesize that a low-cost, low-resolution, and consumer-grade device can provide an economic alternative for the periodic evaluation of building...

Globally 39% of adults are overweight, 13% are obese, and 9% are underweight. Current thermal comfort standards, catering to the normal weight occupant, may hence be ignoring nearly 60% of the population. This could have significant comfort, productivity and energy implications. We performed a climate chamber study of the thermal response of 76 subjects in all the body mass index (BMI) categories, from 17 and 37 kg/m2. Every participant underwent the same four sessions at average operative...

For the article, please use the following link: https://sciencetrends.com/using-open-door-windows-to-ventilate-bedrooms-and-the-consequent-effect-on-sleep-quality/

To assess occupant thermal comfort, field studies were carried out in naturally ventilated (NV) classrooms of Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. The location has a hot–humid climate. Surveys were taken during both semesters over the academic year 2013–14. Results of the surveys gave a regression neutral temperature near 29 °C while preferred temperature was found to be 26.8 °C. Using student responses to thermal acceptability question, 80% occupant satisfaction was found between 22.1...

Adaptive comfort standards have been gaining wider acceptance and are now considered an integral part of main stream comfort research. Several adaptive comfort equations have been developed, some as part of international comfort standards and some for specific climatic regions. In the current work, an attempt was made to find a best fit among available comfort equations for predicting occupant comfort in the tropical climatic regions of India. Comfort temperatures found in surveys done...

This study presents a comparison of classroom learning performance between courses taught in naturally ventilated (NV) rooms and air-conditioned (AC) rooms. This is done to examine effect of thermal comfort standard followed — PMV based or adaptive thermal comfort — on learning. The same group of students, attending different courses in the two classroom types over two years, was chosen to avoid inter-student difference of aptitude and ability. Performance was measured on basis of final...

A thermal comfort field study was conducted in an undergraduate laboratory classroom involving 121 subjects giving 338 responses. The building is located in a tropical climatic region of India. In addition to objective measurements of indoor climate, subjective responses on perceptions regarding thermal sensation, thermal preference, air velocity, and humidity were also collected. We present here an analysis of the subjective preferences and disposition of the occupants. While acceptability...

A thermal comfort field survey is carried out inside a naturally ventilated laboratory in the tropical climatic region of India. The building chosen is used for courses in an undergraduate engineering curriculum. We aimed at assessing how the occupants perceive their thermal environment in a free running building while carrying out their normally scheduled tasks. A total of 121 acclimatized subjects were interviewed and 338 responses were collected during the months of spring semester....

To gain a better perspective of occupant preference in naturally conditioned classrooms, a comfort survey was conducted in undergraduate classes during one month each in fall and spring semesters. The studies were conducted in Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. All students participating in the survey were acclimatized to the local weather. Surveys were taken during November 2012 and March 2013. Survey results showed a remarkable level of adaptation among the occupants to the local...

Adaptive comfort standards (ACS) have been gaining acceptance worldwide including in international comfort standards. The current work does not try to provide further evidence that ACS works but instead tries to put forth the most suitable ACS for the tropical climatic regions of India. We compare the comfort temperatures predicted by some standard ACS with the comfort temperatures found from field studies done in tropical climatic regions of India. We find that an ACS developed for the hot...

In a business as usual scenario, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (CO2) could reach 950 parts per million (ppm) by 2100. Indoor CO2 concentrations will rise consequently, given its dependence on atmospheric CO2 levels. If buildings are ventilated following current standards in 2100, indoor CO2 concentration could be over 1300 ppm, depending on specific ventilation codes. Such exposure to CO2 could have physiological and psychological effects on building occupants. We conducted a...

Building ventilation standards use indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) levels as a proxy for air quality, acknowledging that at typical indoor levels, CO2 itself is not a pollutant. By 2100, outdoor CO2 levels may reach 900 ppm. With current ventilation standards, that would nearly double the levels of chronic, indoor CO2 exposure, raising concerns for its potential effect on occupants. In the last 15 years, an effort to gain this understanding, particularly regarding cognitive performance, has been...

To enhance indoor climate monitoring and indoor climate assessment, a better understanding of the collection and analysis of monitored data, over longer time periods, is necessary. The goal of this work is to improve long-term monitoring in order to arrive at better performance of building indoor climate, with the perception of occupants in mind. Indoor climate was monitored in an open plan office lay-out in two Case study office buildings, during two periods each. Indoor climate data was...

Climate models imply that by 2100 atmospheric CO2 levels could exceed 900 ppm. At these levels, subscribing to current ventilation rates would lead to indoor CO2 levels ≥1,400 ppm, possibly impacting our physiology and other responses. We ran a randomized, within-subject study with 15 participants to examine the physiological effects of 2,5 hour exposure to three CO2 levels: 900 ppm, 1450 ppm (reduced ventilation), and 1450 ppm (pure CO2 added, ventilation same as 900 ppm). End-tidal CO2 and...

This article presents an improved approach for assessing occupant thermal comfort and, in turn, more efficient indoor conditioning. The occupant activity level is an important determinant of required comfort conditions and thus building energy use. For nine volunteers, the activity pattern during typical office days was monitored. Detailed profiles of the occupant activity levels were obtained and, using clustering analysis, divided into "Sedentary" and "Active" groups. Although occupants...