Article
Construction & Building Technology
Xue Wang, Liu Yang, Siru Gao, Shengkai Zhao, Yongchao Zhai
Summary: This study investigates seasonal variations in thermal environment and comfort in classrooms in cold area in China, observing significant differences in temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentration and suggesting cooling in summer and proper ventilation in winter.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ibrahim Reda, Raouf N. AbdelMessih, Mohamed Steit, Ehab M. Mina
Summary: The study found that cross-ventilation can achieve thermal comfort within a suitable range of ambient temperature, while single-side ventilation performs poorly. The DISO scenario with double-inlet single-outlet ventilation can achieve a lower temperature difference, and is suitable for energy conservation and emission reduction.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Giulia Lamberti, Francesco Leccese, Giacomo Salvadori, Francesca Contrada, Andrea Kindinis
Summary: In educational buildings, adaptive strategies can be implemented to achieve thermal comfort and reduce energy consumption. The role of climate in defining different adaptive capacities, thermal neutrality, comfort, and preference needs to be understood. A study was conducted on 17 naturally ventilated university classrooms from 10 buildings in Italy and France, collecting 1377 questionnaires related to environmental parameters. The results showed that despite performing fewer adaptive actions, French students had a lower neutral temperature compared to Italian students, indicating a climate-dependent adaptation.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Carlos Zepeda-Gil, Sukumar Natarajan
Summary: The study indicates that a significant portion of Mexico's population lacks adequate housing conditions, especially under cold winter climates. Current Mexican houses are unable to provide sufficient indoor thermal comfort environments, indicating the need for a more extensive insulation program.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Noor Muhammad Abd Rahmam, Lim Chin Haw, Ahmad Fazlizan, Azman Hussin, Muhammad Syukri Imran
Summary: This study determines the thermal comfort conditions in a naturally ventilated public hospital ward using three methods: simulation, measurements, and surveys. The results reveal that the thermal conditions in the studied ward were uncomfortable and require further improvement.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Larissa Arakawa Martins, Veronica Soebarto, Terence Williamson
Summary: Personal comfort models have been shown to predict specific thermal comfort requirements more accurately than aggregate models, but there is a lack of diversity in building types, climate zones, seasons and participants involved in developing these models. There is also a lack of a unified and systematic framework for modeling development and evaluation, highlighting the challenges of black box models in the field.
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
Construction & Building Technology
Antonio J. Aguilar, Maria L. de la Hoz-Torres, Maria Dolores Martinez-Aires, Diego P. Ruiz
Summary: This study assessed the impact of natural ventilation efficiency and university students' thermal perception during the cold season. The results showed that while the CO2 concentration was within the recommended range in most classrooms, only a small percentage of classrooms had thermal conditions that met the national regulations for comfort. These thermal conditions affected students' satisfaction and academic performance.
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
Maria Teresa Baquero Larriva, Ana Sofia Mendes, Nuria Forcada
Summary: The paper analyzes the influence of climatic conditions on the thermal comfort of occupants (elderly people, caregivers, and therapists) in naturally ventilated nursing homes. The study collects data from 18 nursing homes in three different climatic zones. The results show that the perception of thermal comfort varies in different climates, and outdoor temperature and humidity play a significant role. This research has important implications for the design and operation of nursing homes in different climates.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Kyohei Kondo, Takashi Asawa
Summary: This study examined the effects of air temperature and wind speed on sleep quality in naturally ventilated rooms during autumn. The results showed that a nocturnal mean temperature of 23-24 degrees C was associated with the lowest percentage of wake after sleep onset (WASO), regardless of the window opening conditions. Subjective sleep satisfaction and WASO did not show significant differences between the conditions.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Frank Suerich-Gulick, Anna Halepaska, Salmaan Craig
Summary: This study introduces the concept of temperature cascades and thermal nesting designs, and demonstrates how a thermally nested scheme can generate a natural temperature cascade. By analyzing thermal comfort and energy-saving limits, the study finds that thermal nesting can significantly reduce energy demand. The results also suggest that higher degrees of nesting, higher benchmark envelope conductance, and larger temperature increments lead to greater energy savings.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biology
Xinge Han, Zhuqiang Hu, Chuan Li, Jiansong Wu, Chenming Li, Boyang Sun
Summary: In order to ensure both comfort and energy efficiency of intelligent temperature-controlled equipment, we designed a smart decision-making system that predicts the most appropriate thermal comfort adjustment mode based on environmental factors and human body parameters using supervised learning models. Through comparison and evaluation, we identified the Deep Forest model as the best performer, providing accurate application and simulation results.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Aanchal Sharma, Ashok Kumar, Kishor S. Kulkarni
Summary: The history of research on thermal comfort in the built environment is comprehensive, with established ways to evaluate thermal conditions for different types of buildings in various climates worldwide. The article reviews the chronological development of thermal comfort studies, including the identification of parameters, indices, models, and standards. It highlights the progression from early developments to adaptive thermal comfort models and standards in response to the dynamic built environment, using longitudinal and transverse field studies.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Chalermwat Tantasavasdi, Wilasinee Srisuwan, Natthaumporn Inprom
Summary: The study found that improving stable conditions for horses and humans during working hours in summer can be achieved by adding large openings to increase indoor air velocities and uniformity, while reducing wall height does not significantly impact airflow. Mechanical systems are also necessary for enhancing comfort conditions. Design and operation guidelines were developed based on the research results.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mishan Shrestha, Hom Bahadur Rijal
Summary: Students require a comfortable thermal environment for better academic learning and health. This study demonstrates the advantages of using passive design measures in Nepalese school buildings. Field surveys and simulations were conducted to evaluate the thermal environment and thermal comfort of students. The results showed that the integration of passive strategies reduced the operative temperature below the comfortable limit required during school hours.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Varun Kumar Gupta, Sanjay Kumar, Rajeev Kukreja, Nikhil Chander
Summary: In the last decade, direct absorption solar collector has shown great potential in improving solar water heaters' efficiency by incorporating nanoparticles. However, plasmonic nanoparticles used in nanofluids have drawbacks of high cost, complex preparation processes, and environmental degradation. To overcome these issues, a hybrid nanofluid based on gold nanoparticles in Azadirachta Indica leaves extract was prepared and tested in real outdoor conditions for the first time. The results showed that the prepared hybrid nanofluid had broadband absorption across the visible and near infrared spectrum, achieving a maximum temperature gain of about 20 degrees C and a maximum photo-thermal efficiency of nearly 62%, which is 12% higher than water. The prepared samples were highly stable without sedimentation or agglomeration under repeated sun exposure.
Article
Thermodynamics
Vaibhav Dilip Nagale, Satyender Singh, Sanjay Kumar
Summary: This study presents the thermal performance prediction of a solar air heater design with integrated thermal energy storage systems in low temperature regions. The use of a recyclic double air pass and wavy corrugated PCM units with paraffin wax as PCM is explored. The results show that optimum outlet air temperature and size of the thermal energy storage systems can be achieved under certain geometric and flow parameters.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Prativa Lamsal, Sushil Bahadur Bajracharya, Hom Bahadur Rijal
Summary: The thermal environment quality in office buildings plays a crucial role in human productivity, and comfort standards are necessary to create a comfortable indoor environment. Outdoor climatic conditions have a greater impact on thermal conditions in naturally ventilated buildings compared to air-conditioned ones. The study proposes an adaptive comfort equation for both types of office buildings and emphasizes the need for climate-specific standards to achieve energy-efficient design.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Samar Thapa, Hom Bahadur Rijal, Wilmer Pasut, Ramkishore Singh, Madhavi Indraganti, Ajay Kumar Bansal, Goutam Kumar Panda
Summary: The global warming from climate change will worsen the indoor climate of free-running buildings. Designing buildings with proper orientation and wall thickness is important, but can be difficult in rugged hilly locations. A simulation of an existing multi-family concrete building in eastern India was conducted to evaluate thermal comfort and energy demand in the present and future climate scenarios. The results show increasing indoor temperatures and significant changes in energy demand for heating and cooling. Recommendations include using autoclaved aerated concrete bricks, reducing air infiltration and window-to-wall ratio, and optimizing building orientation for overheating due to climate change. In addition, a method to assess under-cooling of indoor environments was proposed.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Naja Aqilah, Hom Bahadur Rijal, Kazui Yoshida
Summary: People's thermal comfort and sensation may differ in similar indoor environments, and individual comfort models have proven to be more accurate in predicting specific comfort requirements, contributing to improved occupant behavior and thermal comfort.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Kahori Genjo, Haruna Nakanishi, Momoka Oki, Hikaru Imagawa, Tomoko Uno, Teruyuki Saito, Hiroshi Takata, Kazuyo Tsuzuki, Takashi Nakaya, Daisaku Nishina, Kenichi Hasegawa, Taro Mori, Hom Bahadur Rijal
Summary: A field survey was conducted in four office buildings in Japan, measuring indoor environmental conditions and conducting questionnaires on thermal sensation, comfort, and behaviors. The data obtained helped develop an adaptive model and behavior model for indoor temperature control, which can be useful for existing building control and new building design.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Andi Taufan, Sheikh Ahmad Zaki, Ng Wai Tuck, Manoj Kumar Singh, Hom Bahadur Rijal
Summary: This study reviewed various retrofitting strategies implemented to improve mosque performance and found that optimizing design and operations can reduce energy consumption by half. The most substantial annual energy savings were observed by implementing a zoning strategy and an advanced air-conditioning design with intermittent operating system management to meet thermal comfort standards.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Manoj Kumar Singh, Ryozo Ooka, Hom B. Rijal, Sanjay Kumar, Richard de Dear
Summary: Buildings not only offer shelter, but also security, safety, and comfort, while also representing economic and socio-cultural status. High energy consumption of buildings has become a worldwide concern, but adaptive comfort principles provide opportunities for reducing energy consumption without compromising the comfort and quality of indoor environments. However, previous thermal comfort studies in the Northeastern part of India rarely address the thermal adaptation opportunities of office occupants.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Barsha Shrestha, Sanjaya Uprety, Jiba Raj Pokharel, Hom Bahadur Rijal
Summary: This study examined the indoor thermal environment of post-disaster housing in Nepal, comparing prototype houses to traditional vernacular houses. Despite both house types falling below comfort standards, the study found that vernacular houses had slightly higher indoor temperatures due to local building materials and design features. Occupants expressed dissatisfaction with the thermal environment in prototype houses, highlighting the importance of incorporating vernacular design elements for long-term satisfaction and sustainability.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Parminder Singh, Sanjay Kumar, Nikhil Chander, Ashok Kumar Bagha
Summary: This study presents an asymmetric compound parabolic concentrator (ACPC)-based direct absorption solar collector (DASC) system using gold and silver nanoparticle-based plasmonic nanofluids. Real-time outdoor experiments demonstrate that the ACPC-based DASC system achieves a maximum thermal efficiency of around 70%, which is approximately 28% higher than a flat DASC system with water as the working fluid. Furthermore, the plasmonic nanofluids show excellent stability in retaining their optical properties even after hours of sun exposure.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Nurul Izzati, Sheikh Ahmad Zaki, Hom Bahadur Rijal, Jorge Alfredo Ardila Rey, Aya Hagishima, Nurizzatul Atikha
Summary: The use of an air conditioner is essential in hot and humid climates to provide a comfortable environment. A field study was conducted in Malaysia to understand respondent behavior and develop a model of thermal comfort. The findings suggest that water intake, clothing insulation, and outdoor temperature affect indoor comfort.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Parth Bansal, Steven Jige Quan
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between urban form and canopy layer urban heat island (CUHI) using a relatively large sample of microclimate sensors in Seoul, Korea. The study compares different statistical models and finds that the spatially explicit gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) model has the highest accuracy. The study also shows that the effect of urban form on CUHI varies at different time instances during the day. These findings provide valuable insights for planners to understand the complexity of urban climate and reduce CUHI magnitude.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
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)
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Behrouz Nourozi, Aneta Wierzbicka, Runming Yao, Sasan Sadrizadeh
Summary: This article presents a systematic review of ventilation solutions in hospital wards, aiming to enhance pathogen removal performance while maintaining patient and healthcare staff comfort using air-cleaning techniques. The study reveals the importance of proper ventilation systems in reducing infection risk and adverse effects of cross-contamination.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Zhen Yang, Weirong Zhang, Hongkai Liu, Weijia Zhang, Mingyuan Qin
Summary: The study examines the influence of personalized local heating on the thermal comfort of occupants in old residential buildings. The findings reveal that personalized local heating can increase the overall thermal sensation of occupants, but only a few methods are effective in enhancing thermal comfort. The chosen heating methods and background temperature affect the participants' selection of heating parts.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Hong Cheng, Dan Norback, Huilin Zhang, Liu Yang, Baizhan Li, Yinping Zhang, Zhuohui Zhao, Qihong Deng, Chen Huang, Xu Yang, Chan Lu, Hua Qian, Tingting Wang, Ling Zhang, Wei Yu, Juan Wang, Xin Zhang
Summary: The home environment and sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms in five southern Chinese cities have been studied over time. The study found a decrease in asthma prevalence and an increase in allergic rhinitis. Cockroaches, rats, mice, mosquitoes or flies were identified as consistent biological risk factors for SBS symptoms, while redecoration, buying new furniture, and traffic air pollution were identified as other risk factors.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Chaojie Xing, Zhengtao Ai, Zhiwei Liu, Cheuk Ming Mak, Hai Ming Wong
Summary: This study experimentally investigated the emission characteristics of droplets around the mouth during dental treatments. The results showed that the peak mass fraction of droplets occurs within the size range of 20 μm to 100 μm, and droplets with a diameter less than 200 μm account for over 80% of the mass fraction. The dominant emission direction of droplets is towards the dummy's head and chest, forming an approximately cone shape.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Zhijian Liu, Zhe Han, Lina Hu, Chenxing Hu, Rui Rong
Summary: This study compared the effects of different respiratory behaviors on the distribution of aerosols in a ward and the risk of infection for healthcare workers using numerical simulation. It was found that talking in the ward significantly increased aerosol concentrations, particularly short periods of talking. Wards designed with side-supply ventilation had lower overall infection risk. Talking alternately between healthcare workers and patients slightly extended the impact time of aerosols.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yan Yan, Mengyuan Kang, Haodong Zhang, Zhiwei Lian, Xiaojun Fan, Chandra Sekhar, Pawel Wargocki, Li Lan
Summary: In a high-density city, opening windows for sleep may lead to increased indoor temperature, higher PM2.5 concentration, and noise disturbance, which can negatively impact sleep quality.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yan Bai, Liang Liu, Kai Liu, Shuai Yu, Yifan Shen, Di Sun
Summary: This study developed a non-intrusive personal thermal comfort model using machine learning techniques combined with infrared facial recognition. The results showed that the ensemble learning models perform better than traditional models, and the broad learning model has a higher prediction precision with lower computational complexity and faster training speed compared to deep neural networks. The findings provide a reference for optimizing building thermal environments.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yue Lei, Zeynep Duygu Tekler, Sicheng Zhan, Clayton Miller, Adrian Chong
Summary: Mixed-mode ventilation is a promising solution for achieving energy-efficient and comfortable indoor environments. This study found that occupants can thermally adapt when switching between natural ventilation (NV) and air-conditioning (AC) modes within the same day, with the adaptation process stabilizing between 35 to 45 minutes after the mode switch. These findings are important for optimizing thermal comfort in mixed-mode controls, considering the dynamic nature of thermal adaptation.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Nan Mo, Jie Han, Yingde Yin, Yelin Zhang
Summary: This study develops a method based on the LCZ framework for a comprehensive evaluation of urban-scale heat island effects, considering the impact of geographic factors on LST. The results show that Guilin's geomorphological conditions lead to abnormal heat island effects during winter, and the cooling effects of mountains and water bodies vary seasonally in different built areas, with LCZ 2 exhibiting the strongest cooling effect.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Tunga Salthammer
Summary: Monitoring the potential formaldehyde emission of wood-based materials through test chamber investigations has significantly contributed to reducing indoor formaldehyde concentrations. However, the different methodologies used in these procedures prevent direct result comparison. Empirical models for converting formaldehyde steady-state concentrations based on temperature, humidity, air change rate, and loading were developed in the 1970s and have been modified to accommodate the development of lower-emitting materials. Formaldehyde emissions from wood-based materials are complex and require nonlinear regression tools for mathematical analysis.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Katarina Stebelova, Katarina Kovacova, Zuzana Dzirbikova, Peter Hanuliak, Tomas Bacigal, Peter Hartman, Andrea Vargova, Jozef Hraska
Summary: This study investigated the impact of reduced short-wavelength light on the hormone melatonin metabolite 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (u-sMEL) and examined the association between previous day's light exposure and u-sMEL. It was found that reducing short-wavelength light during the day did not change the concentration of u-sMEL. Personal photopic illuminance was positively correlated with u-sMEL in the reference week. The illuminance had a significant impact on u-sMEL, as shown by the evaluation of the mean of all three urine samples. However, this correlation was not found in the experimental week.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ruoxin Xiong, Ying Shi, Haoming Jing, Wei Liang, Yorie Nakahira, Pingbo Tang
Summary: This study proposes a data-model integration method to identify and calibrate uncertainties in machine learning models, leading to improved thermal perception predictions. The method utilizes the Multidimensional Association Rule Mining algorithm to identify biased human responses and enhances prediction accuracy and reliability. The study also evaluates different calibration techniques and discovers their potential in enhancing prediction reliability.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Beichao Hu, Zeda Yin, Abderrachid Hamrani, Arturo Leon, Dwayne McDaniel
Summary: This paper introduces an innovative super-resolution approach to model the air flow and temperature field in the cold aisle of a data center. The proposed method reconstructs a high-fidelity flow field by using a low-fidelity flow field, significantly reducing the computational time and enabling real-time prediction.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
