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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.

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...

Thermal comfort indexes based on physiological models are generally based on the morphology of an average , male individual. The present work explores the effects of physiological variability on the calculation of thermal comfort using the Standard Effective Temperature (SET *). A semi-probabilistic approach is used for the study, with French population demo-graphics as input. Parameters in the physiological model behind the SET * index that vary with human physiology were generated...

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...

The buildings sector, being a leading energy consumer, would need to lead in conservation efforts as well. There is a growing consensus that variability in indoor conditions can be acceptable to occupants, improve comfort perception, and lower building energy consumption. This work endeavours to scrutinise and summarise studies that examined human thermal and comfort perception to such variations in the indoor environment: spatial transients, non-uniformities, and temperature drifts. We also...

In indoor comfort research, thermal comfort of care-professionals in hospital environment is a little explored topic. To address this gap, a mixed methods study, with the nursing staff in hospital wards acting as participants, was undertaken. Responses were collected during three weeks in the summer (n = 89), and four weeks in the autumn (n = 43). Analysis of the subjective feedback from nurses and the measured indoor thermal conditions revealed that the existent thermal conditions (varying...

This work examined window/door opening as means of bedroom ventilation and the consequent effect upon occupants’ sleep, using data from 17 healthy volunteers. Bedroom CO2 level, temperature, and relative humidity were measured over 5 days, for two cases: open window or door (internal, bedroom door), and closed window and door. Participant filled questionnaires and sleep diary provided subjective measure of sleep quality. Actigraphy objectively monitored the participants during sleep....

To understand how transition across different thermal zones in a building impacts the thermal perception of occupants, the current work examines occupant feedback in two work environments — nursing staff in hospital wards and the workers in an office. Both studies used a mix of subjective surveys and objective measurements. A total of 96 responses were collected from the hospital wards while 142 were collected from the office. The thermal environment in the hospital wards was perceived as...

Existing guidelines on monitoring of Indoor Climate Quality (ICQ) do not adequately address long term monitoring. A better understanding of the collection and analysis of monitored data, extending over a longtime period is required. This study aimed at addressing the aforementioned research gaps. The study took place in two office buildings, during two periods each: February & May (case I) and April & June (case II). Thermal environment data was obtained across several locations in the room....