Article
Construction & Building Technology
Sarah Carter, Nicole T. Vargas, Richard de Dear, Kirsten I. Black, Ollie Jay
Summary: The study compared the ambient temperature thresholds for warm thermal discomfort, thermal unacceptability, and preference for cooler environment between post- and pre-menopausal women at different metabolic rates. The results showed that while a higher metabolic rate led to a lower air temperature threshold for warm thermal discomfort, there was no difference in this threshold between pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women, regardless of metabolic rate. However, post-menopausal women reported an environment to be unacceptably warm and expressed a preference for a cooler temperature at a lower ambient and forehead skin temperature.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yuang Guo, Yuxin Wang
Summary: This study investigated the use of evaporative cooling systems in office buildings in Urumqi, China. Through surveys and measurements, it was found that the indoor expectative temperature was lower than the neutral temperature, and the adjusted PMV models had a small gap compared to actual thermal sensation votes. These findings provide some reference values for revising local energy-saving standards.
Article
Thermodynamics
Ana Culic, Sandro Nizetic, Petar Solic, Toni Perkovic, Aleksandar Andelkovic, Velimir Congradac
Summary: In this study, a short-term field investigation using smart monitoring devices was conducted to explore personal thermal comfort. The results showed a positive correlation between wrist skin temperature and thermal comfort evaluation for both female and male users. Additionally, the CO2 concentration in the office had a positive correlation with thermal comfort for male users. These findings endorse the application of wearable devices for detecting personal thermal comfort and provide a basis for further development of heating/cooling systems in buildings.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Bin Yang, Mengchun Wu, Zhe Li, Huangcheng Yao, Faming Wang
Summary: When Personal Comfort Systems (PCS) are used in conjunction with lower temperature environments, it significantly improves subjects' thermal comfort and reduces energy consumption.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Zhiqiang Zhou, Ran Jiao, Liang Dong
Summary: Perceived control has a significant impact on outdoor thermal comfort, expanding the range of acceptable thermal environment and reducing thermal sensitivity.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yaw-Shyan Tsay, Ruijun Chen, Chen-Chi Fan
Summary: This study aimed to research the balance between thermal comfort, productivity, and energy conservation of air-conditioning systems in office buildings in Taiwan. The results showed that the optimum temperature for achieving the best productivity was 27 degrees C for men and 25 degrees C for women, with an energy-saving potential of around 9.1% using thermal comfort control.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Saud Ghani, Ahmed Osama Mahgoub, Foteini Bakochristou, Esmail A. ElBialy
Summary: This study compared the suitability of seven different thermal comfort indices for assessing outdoor thermal comfort in hot and arid environments, with the WBGT index deemed the most suitable.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Haiying Wang, Jie Wang, Wenyu Li, Shuwei Liang
Summary: The study found that the use of radiant leg warmers effectively improved the skin temperature and local skin temperature of office workers, enhancing thermal sensation and thermal comfort. In cognitive ability tests, using the leg warmer did not significantly impact task completion time but did decrease the error rate.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Nagham Ismail, Djamel Ouahrani
Summary: The personalized cooling radiant cubicle (PCRC) combined with a conventional HVAC system can maintain a comfortable microclimate in office rooms in hot climates, reduce thermal asymmetry, improve predicted dissatisfaction index, and save energy with a payback period between 6 and 7 years.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Xincheng He, Weijun Gao, Rui Wang, Diyang Yan
Summary: This study focuses on the outdoor thermal comfort in factory areas and investigates the effect of different built environments on workers' thermal sensations. Through field measurements and questionnaire surveys, the research establishes the outdoor thermal benchmark suitable for factory areas and identifies the factors influencing thermal comfort. The findings could provide theoretical guidelines for the design of factory areas.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ashmin Aryal, Pipat Chaiwiwatworakul, Surapong Chirarattananon
Summary: This study investigated radiant ceiling cooling in office buildings in tropical hot humid climates. Full-scale experiments and simulations were conducted to assess the system performance and compare the results. The study found that exhaust air heat recovery and envelope insulation play important roles in energy saving and improving human comfort during radiant cooling.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ruey-Lung Hwang, Wei -An Chen
Summary: Solar radiation has a significant impact on cooling load and occupants' well-being. This study explores the relative importance of passive solar design parameters for building envelope and analyzes the correlation among facade parameters, energy use, thermal comfort, and geographic location. The results show that adjusting glazing type has the greatest potential for improvement in cooling load and temporal thermal comfort.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Chengcheng Xu, Shuhong Li
Summary: Psychological impact plays a significant role in adaptive thermal comfort models, with perceived control being an important factor. Studies in China's Hot Summer and Cold Winter zone found that different heating systems can affect residents' thermal neutral temperatures, and perceived control can improve thermal comfort.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Nuno Baia Saraiva, Luisa Dias Pereira, Adelio Rodrigues Gaspar, Jose Joaquim da Costa
Summary: Achieving thermal comfort in historic buildings can be complex, with passive strategies often proving inadequate, leading to discomfort. Installation of HVAC systems may be necessary to address overheating issues and improve indoor conditions.
Article
Thermodynamics
Chao Jia, Zhicheng Zhang, Shaoxuan Li, Xiaoying Geng, Xihao Bie, Menghan Wang
Summary: This study analyzes the effectiveness of personal heated table mats in improving the thermal environment in offices. The results show that using these mats significantly enhances the thermal comfort for workers.
CASE STUDIES IN THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Brett Pollard, Lina Engelen, Fabian Held, Joseph Van Buskirk, Richard Spinney, Richard de Dear
Summary: The movement behavior of office workers is influenced by spatial and environmental attributes. Increased visibility of colleagues is associated with reduced movement, while the distance to office destinations is positively associated with the duration of movement. Associations with IEQ exposures are primarily related to stationary behaviors. These findings suggest potential avenues for design and policy-based interventions to reduce stationary time and increase movement in the workplace.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Bongchan Jeong, Jungsoo Kim, Dong Chen, Richard de Dear
Summary: This study examines the perception of thermal comfort and behavioral adaptation of residents in Sydney and Brisbane, Australia. The statistical analysis reveals that the current international standard of adaptive comfort model may not be suitable for residential buildings, and suggests expanding the acceptable temperature range to around 11 K. The findings also demonstrate that the climate influences the shifting of the 80% acceptability range.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Sport Sciences
Sebastien Racinais, Yuri Hosokawa, Takao Akama, Stephane Bermon, Xavier Bigard, Douglas J. Casa, Andrew Grundstein, Ollie Jay, Andrew Massey, Sergio Migliorini, Margo Mountjoy, Nebosa Nikolic, Yannis P. Pitsiladis, Wolfgang Schobersberger, Juergen Michael Steinacker, Fumihiro Yamasawa, David Anthony Zideman, Lars Engebretsen, Richard Budgett
Summary: This document presents the recommendations for the protection of athletes competing in the heat, developed by the IOC Medical and Scientific Commission and international federations. It includes guidelines for event organisers, athletes' behaviours, medical management of exertional heat stroke, and environmental heat risk analysis. The cooperation of various stakeholders is crucial in ensuring the safety of athletes.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yingdong He, Hui Zhang, Edward Arens, Alexander Merritt, Charlie Huizenga, Ronnen Levinson, Andy Wang, Ali Ghahramani, Ana Alvarez-Suarez
Summary: This study proposes a method to predict occupants' thermal state by utilizing infrared thermography, computer vision, and machine learning. By measuring the distribution of skin temperatures on specific areas of the face and hands, and using temperature differences within and between these areas, the effects of calibration drift in thermal infrared cameras are eliminated. The results show that these measurements accurately predict occupant thermal state.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Bongchan Jeong, Jungsoo Kim, Dong Chen, Richard de Dear
Summary: Studies on modelling residential occupant behaviour have gained popularity, but average behaviour profiles are insufficient for accurately predicting energy consumption. This study aims to develop a model that incorporates the diversity of occupants' behaviours and accurately predicts air-conditioning usage in residential settings. Field observations and simulations were conducted, demonstrating the model's predictive skill.
Meeting Abstract
Physiology
Whitley Atkins, Zachary McKenna, Josh Foster, Luke Belval, Bonnie Orth, Elias Johnson, Mayah Benning, Joseph Watso, Courtney Hakes, Ollie Jay, Craig Crandall
Editorial Material
Psychology, Biological
Nicole T. Vargas, Zachary J. Schlader, Ollie Jay, Arnagretta Hunter
NATURE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Kun Lyu, Arianna Brambilla, Anastasia Globa, Richard de Dear
Summary: Thermal experiences in outdoor and semi-outdoor environments have a significant impact on people's overall nature experience and restorative benefits. This research compares the differences in thermal pleasure, adaptive behaviours, and restorative benefits between Chinese and Australian cultural groups in identical semi-outdoor environments. The study found that Chinese participants generally felt thermally unpleasant and engaged in sunlight avoidance behaviours, while Australian participants felt thermally pleasant and engaged in sunlight maximising behaviours. Access to shade as an adaptive opportunity can potentially reduce cultural differences in thermal pleasure and restorative benefits resulting from outdoor exposures.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Sarah Carter, Nicole T. Vargas, Richard de Dear, Kirsten I. Black, Ollie Jay
Summary: The study compared the ambient temperature thresholds for warm thermal discomfort, thermal unacceptability, and preference for cooler environment between post- and pre-menopausal women at different metabolic rates. The results showed that while a higher metabolic rate led to a lower air temperature threshold for warm thermal discomfort, there was no difference in this threshold between pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women, regardless of metabolic rate. However, post-menopausal women reported an environment to be unacceptably warm and expressed a preference for a cooler temperature at a lower ambient and forehead skin temperature.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Siru Gao, Liu Yang, Yanyan Li, Shichao Liu, Hui Zhang, Edward Arens, Yongchao Zhai
Summary: Metabolic rate is crucial in determining human thermal comfort. This study found that regardless of age, women exhibited lower metabolic heat production rates than men across various activities. There was no age-related decline in metabolic heat production during lower activities, rather, it increased with age. The ISO and ASHRAE standards tended to overestimate metabolic rate for standing activities and significantly underestimate it during walking. Some simple household activities had a moderate metabolic rate level.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Xingguo Guo, Shuangshuang Wan, Wenhua Chen, Hui Zhang, Edward Arens, Yuanda Cheng, Wilmer Pasut
Summary: This study evaluates the heat transfer from radiant ceilings with suspended acoustical panels and investigates the impact of an upward-directed ceiling fan on heat exchange. The simulation results show that increasing the fan speed enhances convective and total heat transfer for the radiant panel. Additionally, increasing the fan speed and decreasing the coverage ratio of acoustical panels can reduce temperature nonuniformity and improve thermal comfort in the occupied part of the room. The study suggests that using an upward-directed ceiling fan is a valuable approach to increase radiant surface temperatures, save cooling energy, and reduce surface condensation risk.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Kerstin K. Zander, Joost van Hoof, Sarah Carter, Stephen T. Garnett
Summary: The majority of respondents in Australia prefer a warm climate and use air-conditioning to reach a comfortable temperature at home. The preferred temperature setting for air-conditioning devices is 21.7 degrees Celsius. Factors such as age, heat tolerance, and location influence the frequency of air-conditioning use and temperature preferences.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Arunima Malik, Guillaume Lafortune, Salma Dahir, Zachary A. Wendling, Christian Kroll, Sarah Carter, Mengyu Li, Manfred Lenzen
Summary: Globalization has led to increased reliance on imported commodities for consumption, especially for the European Union. This study assesses the environmental and social impacts of the EU's demand for food products outside of its borders.
GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)