Khoshbakht, M; Zhang, F; Zomorodian, Z S and Gou, Z (2024) Thermal sensitivity and adaptive comfort in mixed-mode office buildings in humid subtropical climate. Building Research & Information, 52(6), pp. 693-707. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
This study evaluates thermal sensitivity, expectations, and adaptability in mixed-mode ventilated buildings by subjective and objective assessments. A field study of simultaneous measurements of physical environmental parameters and right-here-right-now surveys was conducted in three office buildings from summer to winter in humid subtropical climates. The study confirmed previous findings that thermal adaptability and preferences changes as the ventilation system switches between natural ventilation (NV) and air-conditioning (AC). Occupants in this study showed more sensitivity to temperature changes than previously reported by ASHRAE Standards, yet thermal sensitivity was the same under different modes of operation. The neutral temperature was 0.5 oC higher than the predicted neutral temperature by ASHRAE 55 under both modes of operation. Thermal expectations were 1.5 oC warmer than the neutral temperature estimated by ASHRAE 55 when the building was operated by AC, while thermal expectations were almost the same as predicted by ASHRAE 55 under NV mode. Thermal comfort range was 0.75 oC wider than those predicted by ASHRAE 55 under NV operation, and the same as ASHRAE 55 under AC operation. The findings of this research provide a better understanding of mixed-mode building operations and perspectives from occupants, important for building designers and building operation managers.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | adaptive comfort; mixed-mode ventilation; office buildings; thermal comfort; thermal expectation; thermal sensitivity |
| Index terms: | designer, office building, adaptive comfort, thermal comfort, summer, survey, ventilation, manager, field study, winter, preference, building operation, adaptability, natural ventilation |
| Subjects: | decision-making and reasoning, research methods, management, environmental engineering, air quality, human factors, user focus, data collection methods, construction type, profession, climate science, practitioner |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Sustainability, Construction Technology, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here