English

This paper presents some of the results of a field study carried out in 2013 in two University buildings in Paris and in Champs-sur-Marne, nearby Paris. The aim of the study was to examine students‟ thermal judgements and thermal adaptation by combining an objective and a subjective approach. First is presented a comparison between “real” thermal responses (thermal sensation, preference, acceptability) and predicted ones (Predicted Mean Vote, Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied), after which follows an analysis of students‟ actions to improve their thermal comfort.

Although the adaptive comfort model has gained unprecedented popularization during the past few decades, the mechanism behind the model, especially with regard to certain key hypotheses, still requires further clarification. To validate whether people with greater individual control tend to attain comfort state in wider ranges of indoor thermal environments, we designed an investigational study in Beijing apartments with different degrees of individual control over space heating systems.

This paper presents the results from the thermal comfort studies at three airport terminal buildings in the UK where seasonal on-site surveys were conducted. The investigation involved extensive monitoring of the indoor environmental conditions along with 3,087 questionnaire-guided interviews with terminal users. The paper quantifies the thermal requirements of the terminal population and focuses on the thermal perception of passengers and staff in different terminal spaces.

In the past 20 years, better representation of occupants’ window operation in building performance simulation has received great attention, and several useful window opening behaviour models have been developed. Beyond these, this paper describes the development of window opening behaviour models based on alternative occupant classification approaches, namely, modelling occupants’ window operation actions as a whole; modelling actions based on sub-groups (i.e.

In achieving low-energy operation, occupant-controlled mixed mode buildings rely as much on the judicious use of active climate control by occupants as they do on the efficiency of the building services. The extent to which occupants choose to use natural ventilation for creating a thermally comfortable environment is informed in part by the human heat balance, and by the availability and effectiveness of adaptive comfort devices, but is also a function of social, cultural, and local context. Qualitative study is suited to exploring these factors in more detail.

This research suggests that the thermal preference of occupants is subject to change; hence, a particular thermal setting may not be able to constantly satisfy everyone. On the contrary, individual thermal control in the workplace is more likely to increase user comfort and satisfaction. This is examined through environmental measurements, comfort surveys and semi-structured interviews in two office layouts with high and low thermal control.

There is limited information available about occupant’s window opening behaviour in India. Operating doors and windows is a vital adaptation mechanism in warm climates. This paper reports on a field study which collected and analysed data on the use of openings, comfort responses and the simultaneous temperatures in Indian offices. Occupants in naturally ventilated buildings used the windows and doors adaptively as the seasons changed and the temperature varied. We found that 50% of the windows would be opened at an indoor air temperature of 30 °C, using logistic regression.

In the field of building design a rather conservative culture dominates: during the design process, standards are used to achieve physiological comfort. Physiological comfort is a necessity in order to achieve psychological comfort and eventually occupant satisfaction and overall wellbeing. To achieve occupant satisfaction and wellbeing, physiological comfort as well as psychological comfort have to be met.

Field studies have been carried out in selected Prayer Halls to address the research questions namely the impact of air conditioning on comfort of women versus men as well as on general members versus older members of a congregation, who follow universally adopted standard proceedings, and hold prayer meetings every morning from 3.30 am to 5.30 am and every evening from around 7 pm to 9 pm.  Comfort evaluations were carried out in three cities - two of which are presented here.

Building automation systems provide potential to optimise the energy consumption of buildings as well as to detect failures in the operation of buildings. Providing the occupants with control over the indoor environment is widely accepted to positively affect the occupant’s satisfaction. The system building-HVAC-automation-user is becoming more complex. So what does the term ‘perceived control’ really mean? Psychological constructs from social learning theory and personality psychology transferred to the field of personal control of the indoor environment will be discussed.