Article
Construction & Building Technology
Chali Yadeta, Madhavi Indraganti, Gudina Terefe Tucho, Esayas Alemayehu
Summary: This study investigates thermal comfort, adaptive models, and behavioral adaptations in naturally ventilated residential buildings in Jimma town, Ethiopia. The research finds that a majority of occupants feel uncomfortable with the environmental temperature but are able to adapt through environmental adjustments, clothing choices, and activity levels.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Rajan Rawal, Yash Shukla, Vishnu Vardhan, Sneha Asrani, Marcel Schweiker, Richard de Dear, Vishal Garg, Jyotirmay Mathur, Sanjay Prakash, Saurabh Diddi, S. Vikash Ranjan, Abdullah N. Siddiqui, Govinda Somani
Summary: This study proposes an adaptive thermal comfort model for Indian residences and compares it with other existing models. The research finds that the thermal adaptivity of Indian occupants is underestimated by current models. The proposed model shows potential in meeting the thermal comfort needs of the national population while promoting long-term energy savings and climate action.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Mou Di, Cao Bin, Zhu Ying-xin
Summary: Kunming has a unique climate and most residential buildings are naturally ventilated. Despite the indoor temperature being lower than the comfort range, most residents still feel neutral and comfortable. The neutral temperature in Kunming is determined to be 16.96 degrees C, with an acceptable thermal sensation vote (TSV) range of -0.72 to 1.52.
JOURNAL OF CENTRAL SOUTH UNIVERSITY
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Dalia Ghaddar, Mariam Itani, Nesreen Ghaddar, Kamel Ghali, Joseph Zeaiter
Summary: This study developed a standalone autonomously controlled personalized ventilation unit in a naturally ventilated office space to maintain acceptable thermal comfort. The NV-PV proportional integral derivative controller adjusted the supply temperature based on predicted thermal comfort levels, with adaptive tuning coefficients found using the Internal Model Control method. The controller was able to maintain acceptable thermal comfort under transient indoor conditions and activity levels.
BUILDING SIMULATION
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Jose Luis Fernandez-Zayas, Juan Francisco Villa-Medina, Norberto Chargoy-del Valle, Miguel Angel Porta-Gandara
Summary: An experiment was conducted in a ten-story office building in Mexico City to evaluate natural ventilation, aiming to establish basic design considerations for effective ventilation. The results from temperature measurements, based on a simple mathematical model, showed consistent airflow patterns and specific characteristics of the ventilation phenomenon. The study validated the feasibility of using natural ventilation to provide passive thermal comfort throughout the year in Mexico City.
CASE STUDIES IN THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Pablo Aparicio-Ruiz, Elena Barbadilla-Martin, Jose Guadix, Jesus Munuzuri
Summary: The study reveals discrepancies in thermal comfort between children and adults, with children preferring cooler temperatures and a wider comfort range at 24-27 degrees Celsius indoors. They tend to opt for natural ventilation strategies like opening windows and doors over using fans or changing clothes.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
David Bienvenido-Huertas, Jesus A. Pulido-Arcas, Carlos Rubio-Bellido, Alexis Perez-Fargallo
Summary: Buildings are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, prompting the European Union to implement a strategy to decarbonize buildings; however, transnational policies may not always be effective due to differing socioeconomic situations. This research examines the applicability of two thermal comfort standards for reducing energy consumption in the European building sector, particularly focusing on the Mediterranean area.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Victoria Patricia Lopez-Cabeza, Carlos Rivera-Gomez, Jorge Roa-Fernandez, Miguel Hernandez-Valencia, Rafael Herrera-Limones
Summary: Thermal inertia and natural ventilation are commonly used and studied strategies in indoor building performance. However, their effects on the outdoor microclimate have been little analyzed. This study investigates the thermal performance of courtyards by analyzing the effects of thermal inertia and ventilation using a real-scale prototype.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Shouib Nouh Ma'bdeh, Odi Fawwaz Alrebei, Laith M. M. Obeidat, Tamer Al-Radaideh, Katerina Kaouri, Abdulkarem I. I. Amhamed
Summary: Previous studies have shown that window-windcatchers effectively capture and redirect wind into a building, increasing ventilation ratio by 9%. However, the impact of this system on energy performance, costs, and thermal comfort has not been studied. In this research, the implementation of a window-windcatcher on a residential building was investigated using a validated DesignBuilder model. Results showed a 23.3% reduction in annual energy consumption and cost, as well as a decrease of 290 thermal discomfort hours per year.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Miaomiao Liu, Salah Almazmumi, Pinlu Cao, Carlos Jimenez-bescos, John Kaiser Calautit
Summary: Windcatchers provide effective low-energy ventilation and summer passive cooling in temperate climates. However, their use in winter is limited due to significant ventilation heat loss and potential discomfort. This study evaluates the applicability of windcatchers in low-temperature conditions, highlighting the need for control strategies to reduce over-ventilation and the integration of heat recovery or thermal storage to enhance winter thermal conditions.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Tajudeen Dele Mustapha, Ahmad Sanusi Hassan, Fatemeh Khozaei, Hilary Omatule Onubi
Summary: Most thermal comfort research has focused on office and commercial buildings, neglecting the importance of educational facilities. This study investigates thermal comfort settings in secondary school classrooms in Abuja's hot and dry climate and finds that none of the studied classrooms met the ASHRAE Standard-55 comfort range. However, 44% of students still felt comfortable, indicating a need for a local thermal comfort standard.
INDOOR AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yue Lyu, Zhongqing Chen
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the thermal comfort requirements in residential buildings and establish an adaptive thermal comfort model. A two-year field study was conducted on residential buildings in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China. The results showed that the thermal comfort requirements of residents change with the seasons and seasonal models reflect the residents' thermal adaptation caused by dynamic climate change more comprehensively and accurately. In addition, this study determined the residents' psychological and behavioural adaptability to the seasons and found the characteristics of thermal sensation and requirements for thermal comfort in different seasons. The results could be used as a basis to improve energy efficiency and meet comfort needs in the future.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ricardo Forgiarini Rupp, Thomas Parkinson, Jungsoo Kim, Jorn Toftum, Richard de Dear
Summary: Occupants' thermal sensitivity affects comfort temperature and adaptive comfort models, and varies according to building ventilation type and geographic region.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
N. Forcada, M. Gangolells, M. Casals, B. Tejedor, M. Macarulla, K. Gaspar
Summary: This study presents adaptive thermal comfort models for nursing homes based on field surveys, indicating that residents in naturally ventilated rooms are more adaptive, while those in air-conditioned rooms are less sensitive to outdoor conditions. These models will help reduce the use of heating and cooling in nursing homes.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kai Sun, Xijie Chen, Sajad Maleki Dastjerdi, Qing Yang
Summary: In this study, off-grid zero energy buildings with hydrogen energy storage systems are designed and analyzed. The buildings supply their electricity consumption without using the electrical grid and PV panels or wind turbines. Occupant thermal comfort is provided by a vapor compression chiller and humidifier, and solar collectors are used for domestic hot water supply. The results show that PV panels with specific areas can meet the electricity demand of the building in humid and cold cities, and suitable air conditioner systems can improve occupant thermal comfort.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2022)