Submit to Buildings Review for Buildings Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

Thermal Comfort in Built Environment: Challenges and Research Trends

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2024) | Viewed by 15353

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Nianping Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, 2 Lushan S Rd, Yuelu District, Changsha 410012, China
Interests: indoor air quality; building environment; building energy; thermal comfort

Dr. Yingdong He

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410012, China
Interests: human thermal comfort; energy-efficient technologies; regional energy networks
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In order to advance building technology and achieve the goals of creating "low-carbon" and "healthy" buildings, the theoretical science of human thermal comfort has been given a new task in response to global warming and carbon emissions. Future development of human thermal comfort research will mostly take two paths: one is the thorough scientific understanding of the complex relationship between people and their surrounding thermal environment, not just for human comfort needs, but also with an emphasis on the implications for health; the second is the potential for technical improvement brought on by these fresh scientific discoveries, which has the potential to increase individual thermal comfort while also lowering the amount of energy needed to sustain thermal conditions in buildings.

This Special Issue, “Thermal Comfort in Built Environment: Challenges and Research Trends”, in Buildings welcomes excellent original contributions and high-impact works, with the goal of thermal comfort research in special spaces, special populations, and special equipment.

We warmly invite authors to submit their original papers for potential inclusion in this Special Issue on thermal comfort in a built environment.

Prof. Dr. Nianping Li
Dr. Yingdong He
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

thermal comfort
health
personal comfort system (PCS)
dynamic thermal environment
control system
air conditioning
thermal environment
building energy performance
low-carbon

Published Papers (12 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

19 pages, 7957 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Field Investigation to Quantify the Correlation between Local and Overall Thermal Comfort in Cool Environments

by Xiaohong Liang, Yingdong He, Nianping Li, Yicheng Yin and Jinhua Hu

Buildings 2024, 14(4), 1171; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14041171 - 21 Apr 2024

Viewed by 324

Abstract

The thermal comfort of local body parts is the essential factor that affects people’s health and comfort as well as a buildings’ energy. This study aims to (1) investigate the characteristics of the local thermal comfort of different body parts of occupants in real buildings in winter, (2) quantify the correlation between the amount of local body parts with coolness or discomfort and the overall subjective thermal responses, and (3) validate an easy-to-use local–overall thermal comfort model. A field investigation in the office and study rooms of a university was conducted in winter. The results indicate that the top five percentages of local coolness appeared in the feet (41.02%), the hands (26.58%), the calves (25.18%), the thighs (13.99%), and the head (9.72%) and that the top five percentages of local discomfort appeared in the feet (44.99%), the palms (28.2%), the calves (24.74%), the head (19.66%), and the thighs (16.35%). Moreover, when the whole body felt cool, at least four local body parts had cool sensations; when the whole body felt thermally uncomfortable, at least three local body parts had cool sensations; and when the whole body felt that the ambient environment was thermally unacceptable, at least seven local body parts had cool sensations. Meanwhile, the correlation between local discomfort and whole-body responses was different: when the whole body felt thermal uncomfortable, at least three local body parts had discomfort; and when the whole body felt that the ambient environment was thermally unacceptable, at least four local body parts had discomfort. Further, the local–overall thermal comfort model proposed by the authors exerted high accuracy in predicting overall thermal comfort. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermal Comfort in Built Environment: Challenges and Research Trends)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 9038 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Skin Heat Transfer and Thermal Sensation Coupling Model under Steady Stimulation

by Yijia Zhou, Hang Yu, Maohui Luo and Xiang Zhou

Buildings 2024, 14(2), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14020547 - 19 Feb 2024

Viewed by 613

Abstract

Thermal sensation prediction models can help to evaluate complex thermal environments and guide the environment conditioning strategy. However, most existing models are established basing on the thermal status of the entire human body or local body parts, failing to reflect thermal sensation generating mechanism or micro-scale (centimeter-scale) thermal sensation. This study put forward a new thermal sensation predicting approach by coupling the skin heat transfer and the thermoreceptor impulse signals. The micro-scale thermal sensitivity data under steady stimuli were applied to bridging the objective heat transfer model and the subjective sensation model. The model contains a one-dimensional skin heat transfer equation and three sensation-generating equations: the thermoreceptor impulse equation, the psychosensory intensity equation, and the thermal sensation equation. The dimension of the skin heat transfer equation was determined through a skin temperature diffusion experiment, and the coefficients of the static/dynamic impulse in the thermoreceptor impulse equation and the thermal sensation equation were obtained through polynomial fitting using thermal sensitivity data. The validated mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) was 0.08 and 0.1 under cooling and heating stimuli, respectively. This new model can predict thermal sensation on the centimeter scale and be applied under different boundary conditions. In the future, the new model can be further developed by testing dynamic stimuli and other boundary conditions so that it can be applied to more complex thermal exposures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermal Comfort in Built Environment: Challenges and Research Trends)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 554 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Information and Comfort Expectations Related to the Use of a Personal Ceiling Fan

by Romina Rissetto and Marcel Schweiker

Buildings 2024, 14(1), 262; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010262 - 17 Jan 2024

Viewed by 811

Abstract

Rising global temperatures have increased the need for research into human adaptability and comfort in buildings. To reduce comfort-related energy demands, low-energy-consumption alternatives for space cooling, such as personal environmental control systems (PECS), are being investigated. The implementation of PECS in office buildings is still underway, and little is known about how occupants’ expectations can influence their satisfaction with PECS and indoor environmental quality. This study examines the influence of tailored information and occupants’ comfort expectations on their thermal perceptions and satisfaction with a personal ceiling fan. Seventy-six participants completed an online questionnaire and attended a half-day session at 30 °C in a climate chamber in Germany. A manipulation technique to activate personal norms was used to test the influence of information on expectations. Results indicated higher reported thermal comfort in participants with more positive thermal expectations, regardless of their expectations of the building systems. These effects were largely moderated by personal norms, indicating the importance of activating normative motivations to increase thermal comfort. Occupants with negative expectations improved their perceptions of the fan when making personal adjustments to stay comfortable. However, this effect was not moderated by personal norms. Practical implications focus on manipulating occupants’ comfort expectations, e.g., by providing occupants with normative messages and individual control, to achieve greater comfort and acceptance of personal building controls in naturally ventilated buildings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermal Comfort in Built Environment: Challenges and Research Trends)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 2026 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Health Risk Assessment of Inhalable Dust Exposure during the Welding and Grinding Process of Subway Aluminum Alloy Components

by Can Li, Duanjun Han, Xiaoqing Wei, Jinlin Yang and Chunlong Wu

Buildings 2023, 13(10), 2469; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13102469 - 28 Sep 2023

Viewed by 984

Abstract

The subway factory industry is developing rapidly in China, but there are some occupational health risk assessments of inhalable dust in this industry. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the contamination level and health risks of dust in an aluminum alloy body workshop of subway factories in Hunan Province, China. A total of 160 dust samples were collected from the welding and grinding areas. The main elements of PM₁₀ were analyzed. The health risks of aluminum dust and PM_2.5 were evaluated. The Monte Carlo method was adopted to compare the sensitivity of the Hazard Quota (HQ) of aluminum dust and carcinogenic risk (CR) of PM_2.5 to the exposure parameters for workers. The results showed that the PM₁₀ concentration in the grinding area was higher, while the PM_2.5 concentration in the welding area was higher. The metal element with a mass fraction of 27.7% was aluminum. In both areas, the probability of the aluminum dust HQ exceeding 1 was approximately 17% and 68%, respectively. The PM_2.5 CR exceeded the acceptable upper limit value (1.0 × 10⁻⁴). The main risk factor of aluminum dust HQ was concentration, while the main risk factors of PM_2.5 CR were concentration and exposure duration. These findings provide basic data for enhancing health risk management in the subway industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermal Comfort in Built Environment: Challenges and Research Trends)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 7077 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climatic Variability in Altitude: Architecture, Thermal Comfort, and Safety along the Facade of a Residential Tower in the Mediterranean Climate

by Soultana (Tanya) Saroglou, Hofit Itzhak-Ben-Shalom and Isaac A. Meir

Buildings 2023, 13(8), 1979; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13081979 - 02 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1041

Abstract

This research is part of a wider study on the sustainability of high-rise buildings within the urban environment. The focus here is on wind and temperature stratifications per different height through in situ monitoring on a high-rise residential tower in the Mediterranean climate of Tel Aviv, and their impact on thermal comfort and user safety. The appropriateness of design is discussed in relation to the direct exposure to higher-up wind velocities, the thermal perception of the residents through questionnaires, and the safety and usability of the outdoors space according to height. The potential for advancing the energy efficiency of the structure is also discussed. The study covers a hot and a cold season, focusing on the specificities of the wind regime in the specific climate, through seasonal variations. Results from the monitoring of data confirmed increased wind and gust velocities per building height all year round, reaching the level of danger for the occupants during winter, cancelling, thus a successful operation of the outdoor balcony space. The occupants’ perception and use of the outdoor balcony space per building height were in direct relationship to the increased wind velocities per height. Discussion and conclusions critically evaluate the residential high-rise building typology in the Mediterranean climate through the design of the outdoor balcony space along the height of the envelope. The results set an initial understanding and delineation for future studies, while underlining the complications of designing and occupying tall buildings and the level of detailing required. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermal Comfort in Built Environment: Challenges and Research Trends)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3504 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Experimental Study on Human Thermal Comfort with Thermal-Conductive Bed during Sleep in Summer

by Jinhua Hu, Xiaoli Hao, Minhua Huang, Yingdong He, Nianping Li, Yaolin Lin and Shiqiang Chen

Buildings 2023, 13(8), 1936; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13081936 - 29 Jul 2023

Viewed by 897

Abstract

Sleep is vital for human health, while sleep quality is affected by indoor thermal environments. This study aims to investigate human thermal comfort with a thermal-conductive bed during sleep in summer. A series of experiments were conducted in a climatic chamber of a university. Subjects slept on a thermal-conductive bed, with or without the supply of water cooling them by flowing through the pipes embedded in the bed. The supply water was set at 20, 25, 28, and 30 °C. The indoor temperature was set at 32 °C. The bed surface temperature (back, buttock, thigh, and calf) and the subject’s skin temperature were measured. Questionnaires after waking up the next morning were conducted. The results show that when there was no water supply in the pipes of the thermal-conductive bed, the bed surface temperature was 0–1.5 °C higher than the indoor temperature, and subjects felt slightly warm. When the supply water temperature was 28 or 30 °C, subjects felt thermally comfortable during a night’s sleep. This study demonstrates that the proposed thermal-conductive bed with supply water temperatures of 28–30 °C can create a comfortable sleep environment for residents who have no air-conditioning systems in summer, which can also help save building energy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermal Comfort in Built Environment: Challenges and Research Trends)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

29 pages, 5309 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Systematic Approach to Optimizing Energy-Efficient Automated Systems with Learning Models for Thermal Comfort Control in Indoor Spaces

by Serdar Erişen

Buildings 2023, 13(7), 1824; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071824 - 19 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2050

Abstract

Energy-efficient automated systems for thermal comfort control in buildings is an emerging research area that has the potential to be considered through a combination of smart solutions. This research aims to explore and optimize energy-efficient automated systems with regard to thermal comfort parameters, energy use, workloads, and their operation for thermal comfort control in indoor spaces. In this research, a systematic approach is deployed, and building information modeling (BIM) software and energy optimization algorithms are applied at first to thermal comfort parameters, such as natural ventilation, to derive the contextual information and compute the building performance of an indoor environment with Internet of Things (IoT) technologies installed. The open-source dataset from the experiment environment is also applied in training and testing unique black box models, which are examined through the users’ voting data acquired via the personal comfort systems (PCS), thus revealing the significance of Fanger’s approach and the relationship between people and their surroundings in developing the learning models. The contextual information obtained via BIM simulations, the IoT-based data, and the building performance evaluations indicated the critical levels of energy use and the capacities of the thermal comfort control systems. Machine learning models were found to be significant in optimizing the operation of the automated systems, and deep learning models were momentous in understanding and predicting user activities and thermal comfort levels for well-being; this can optimize energy use in smart buildings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermal Comfort in Built Environment: Challenges and Research Trends)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

43 pages, 11272 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Savings Potentials Using Energy Retrofitting Measures for a Residential Building in Jeddah, KSA

by Ahmed Felimban, Ulrich Knaack and Thaleia Konstantinou

Buildings 2023, 13(7), 1645; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071645 - 28 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2332

Abstract

Residential buildings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) contribute to nearly half of the overall electricity consumption in the building stock, highlighting their significant role in energy consumption. While an upgraded energy code has been established and enforced for new buildings, existing buildings continue to operate at the same level of energy consumption. Therefore, there is a need for further energy upgrades in existing buildings. This study evaluates the energy savings potential of various energy retrofitting measures for a case study in Jeddah, KSA. Data from previous studies and current practices were collected and analyzed. Different energy upgrade measures, such as windows replacement, wall insulation upgrade, roof insulation upgrade, and air conditioning unit replacement, were selected and evaluated using a digital simulation tool called Design-Builder. The simulation results were compared to understand the potential percentage of energy savings. The average annual energy consumption (AAEC) was used as the primary performance indicator to compare the energy savings among the scenarios. The results demonstrate significant reductions in energy consumption for the proposed scenarios. Furthermore, the study examined the significant impact of uncertainties, specifically, the infiltration rate and AC setback temperature, on AAEC. In conclusion, the proposed scenarios have the potential to achieve substantial energy savings, ranging from 25% to 66%, depending on the number of energy retrofitting interventions employed. The findings of this study can serve as a useful reference for similar energy retrofitting projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermal Comfort in Built Environment: Challenges and Research Trends)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3157 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk Control of Energy Performance Fluctuation in Multi-Unit Housing for Weather Uncertainty

by Jiahe Wang, Masayuki Mae and Keiichiro Taniguchi

Buildings 2023, 13(7), 1616; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071616 - 26 Jun 2023

Viewed by 693

Abstract

With the acceleration of urban development, the population density of urban cities has increased. As the spatial characteristics of multi-unit housing (MUH) perfectly fit this developmental trend and, simultaneously, have high energy efficiency, the number of MUHs has increased rapidly in recent decades. Although many studies have proposed high energy efficiency strategies, weather uncertainty leads to errors between the operational performance of building energy and simulated values. This study introduces a robust optimization framework that incorporates uncertainty considerations into the optimization process to suppress energy consumption fluctuations and improve the average building energy consumption performance. Neural networks are used to model the uncertainty of multiple weather elements as normal distributions for each hour, and the accuracy of the uncertainty model is validated by calculating the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) between the mean values of the distribution and the measurement values, which ranges from 3% to 13%. The clustering algorithm is proposed to replace the sampling method to complete the sampling work from the normal distribution space of the weather elements to serve the subsequent optimization process. Compared with the traditional method, the sampling results of the clustering algorithm show better representativeness in the sample space. The robust optimization results show that the average energy consumption of the optimal scheme decreases by 13.4%, and the standard deviation decreases by approximately 17.2%, which means that the optimal scheme, generated by the robust optimization framework proposed in this study, has lower average energy consumption results and a more stable energy consumption performance in the face of weather uncertainty. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermal Comfort in Built Environment: Challenges and Research Trends)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 5258 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vulnerability of Affordable Housing to Global Warming in South Africa: Case Study of a Masonry House in Johannesburg

by Ryan Bradley

Buildings 2023, 13(6), 1494; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13061494 - 09 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1166

Abstract

Global warming is expected to lead to longer and more intense heatwaves, which will have negative environmental and socioeconomic impacts around the world. South Africa is projected to experience significant warming, with surface temperatures possibly increasing by up to 3 °C by mid-century. This warming trend has implications for architecture, as the demand for cooling in buildings could rise dramatically. However, socioeconomic conditions in developing countries may limit the use of air conditioning to mitigate indoor overheating. In South Africa, research has shown that government provided low-cost housing structures are thermally inefficient, with temperatures occasionally exceeding outdoor levels. Residents often rely on natural ventilation and personal actions to cope with heat. However, the effects of climate change may render these strategies insufficient if energy poverty and housing improvement are not addressed. This study aims to examine the impact of global warming on a high mass, naturally ventilated, affordable housing structure in Johannesburg, South Africa. Measured operative temperature data from a long-term experimental study, alongside adaptive temperature limits to evaluate overheating, highlight the vulnerability of indoor spaces without adequate insulation and/or thermal mass. The results underscore concerns about the performance of low-cost and affordable housing in warmer future climates in the South African interior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermal Comfort in Built Environment: Challenges and Research Trends)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

30 pages, 17393 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Energy Retrofitting Strategies and Their Effect on Comfort in a Vernacular Building in a Dry Mediterranean Climate

by Andrea Lozoya-Peral, Carlos Pérez-Carramiñana, Antonio Galiano-Garrigós, Ángel Benigno González-Avilés and Stephen Emmitt

Buildings 2023, 13(6), 1381; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13061381 - 26 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1328

Abstract

This research explores the energy behaviour of a traditional house on the Mediterranean coast of south-eastern Spain. The objective of the work is to determine the optimal passive strategies for rehabilitating a traditional house, improving its energy savings and comfort, considering the characteristics of the warm semi-arid Mediterranean climate. The main novelty of this article is that it demonstrates that the limits imposed by current regulations, based on globalised climate strategy approaches, undermine the energy efficiency capacity that passive solutions in vernacular architecture already employed. The methodology used consists of a systematised multi-objective study of various energy rehabilitation strategies. Four strategies were studied: raising the thermal insulation of enclosures, improving thermal insulation and solar control glazing with movable shading devices, increasing the size of windows and introducing the use of natural ventilation enhanced by ceiling fans. The results show that simultaneous improvement of these parameters reduces cooling and heating requirements by up to 87%, reducing the energy consumption of air conditioning systems. Indoor temperatures are also maintained within the comfort limits set by regulations for 91% of hours per year without the need for air conditioning systems. This results in a passive energy-efficient and comfortable house almost all year round. This work offers an alternative solution to the comfort standards of current Spanish regulations and demonstrates the need to adapt Fanger’s analytical method for comfort estimation. The research concludes that the comfort criteria of current energy regulations should be modified to better adapt the design criteria to the dry Mediterranean climate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermal Comfort in Built Environment: Challenges and Research Trends)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 18357 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Performance Glazing for Enhancing Sustainable Environment in Arid Region’s Healthcare Projects

by Esam M. H. Ismaeil and Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih

Buildings 2023, 13(5), 1243; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13051243 - 09 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2044

Abstract

The integration of sustainability rating systems in healthcare projects and healthcare building envelope specifications is a growing concern in the construction industry, especially in the arid region. The external facade of healthcare buildings is one of the most significant contributors to the energy cost and comfort level of healthcare buildings in such a region. This study undertook a comprehensive comparison analysis of an adaptive model of high-performance glazing (HPG) specifications for patient rooms in a case study inside Saudi Arabia based on multi-criteria, including the LEED Healthcare rating system. The study used a technical comparative analysis for three onsite glazing models with HAB software v6.0 based on specifications of specialist manufacturer organizations for glazing window performance, climatic conditions, and the region’s culture. Significant results in the case study project were achieved in energy saving and sustainability ranking in the healthcare rating system, providing new specification guidelines for HPG applications in healthcare buildings located in an arid region, and cultural environment considerations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermal Comfort in Built Environment: Challenges and Research Trends)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Thermal Comfort in Built Environment: Challenges and Research Trends

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (12 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI