Thermal comfort study of occupants in University of Patras

The growing demand for better environmental conditions, especially in offices, has increased the need for appropriate standard in order to success the maximum productivity, to minimize the problems of health and the functional cost of air-condition systems. The purpose of this study is to investigate the thermal environment in offices of occupants in University of Patras. Aims of this study are to compare the PMVPPD index with the real sensation of the occupants, to research the real thermal environment and the habits in clothing and feeding of Greek people, to research the factors, that have relation with the thermal comfort, and finally to make a proposal for the thermal design of air-conditioned offices for people, who work in such places. The investigation took place during summer months (June, July and September). 75 people (27 women and 48 men), between 21- 57 years old, professors, secretaries and postgraduates, during their work, in their real workplace, for 20 minutes were interviewed with a standard questionnaire. In the same time the characteristic subjects of microclimate (dry and bulb temperature, radiant temperature, relative humidity, air velocity) were measured by one device that is called as BABUC A. This is an approach of the thermal comfort and perception of Greek people in Patras. It is found that the average temperature was 26.25oC, even if the interviewed people believed that the temperature was 24.46oC and that they choose to work in place of 22.27oC. The percentage of occupants, who declared dissatisfied, was 55.11% and absolutely dissatisfied was 4.89%. This study showed too that women prefer to work in warmer rooms with about 1oC in comparison to men and that the thermal comfort depends slightly on the bodyconstruction, the height and the weights.