| 1. |
- Schweiker, Marcel, et al.
(author)
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Evaluating assumptions of scales for subjective assessment of thermal environments – Do laypersons perceive them the way, we researchers believe?
- 2020
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In: Energy and Buildings. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-7788. ; 211
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- People's subjective response to any thermal environment is commonly investigated by using rating scales describing the degree of thermal sensation, comfort, and acceptability. Subsequent analyses of results collected in this way rely on the assumption that specific distances between verbal anchors placed on the scale exist and that relationships between verbal anchors from different dimensions that are assessed (e.g. thermal sensation and comfort) do not change. Another inherent assumption is that such scales are independent of the context in which they are used (climate zone, season, etc.). Despite their use worldwide, there is indication that contextual differences influence the way the scales are perceived and therefore question the reliability of the scales’ interpretation. To address this issue, a large international collaborative questionnaire study was conducted in 26 countries, using 21 different languages, which led to a dataset of 8225 questionnaires. Results, analysed by means of robust statistical techniques, revealed that only a subset of the responses are in accordance with the mentioned assumptions. Significant differences appeared between groups of participants in their perception of the scales, both in relation to distances of the anchors and relationships between scales. It was also found that respondents’ interpretations of scales changed with contextual factors, such as climate, season, and language. These findings highlight the need to carefully consider context-dependent factors in interpreting and reporting results from thermal comfort studies or post-occupancy evaluations, as well as to revisit the use of rating scales and the analysis methods used in thermal comfort studies to improve their reliability.
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| 2. |
- Schweiker, Marcel, et al.
(author)
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The Scales Project, a cross-national dataset on the interpretation of thermal perception scales
- 2019
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In: Scientific data. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2052-4463. ; 6:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Thermal discomfort is one of the main triggers for occupants' interactions with components of the built environment such as adjustments of thermostats and/or opening windows and strongly related to the energy use in buildings. Understanding causes for thermal (dis-)comfort is crucial for design and operation of any type of building. The assessment of human thermal perception through rating scales, for example in post-occupancy studies, has been applied for several decades; however, long-existing assumptions related to these rating scales had been questioned by several researchers. The aim of this study was to gain deeper knowledge on contextual influences on the interpretation of thermal perception scales and their verbal anchors by survey participants. A questionnaire was designed and consequently applied in 21 language versions. These surveys were conducted in 57 cities in 30 countries resulting in a dataset containing responses from 8225 participants. The database offers potential for further analysis in the areas of building design and operation, psycho-physical relationships between human perception and the built environment, and linguistic analyses.
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| 3. |
- Hellwig, Runa T., et al.
(author)
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A framework for adopting adaptive thermal comfort principles in design and operation of buildings
- 2019
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In: Energy and Buildings. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-7788. ; 205
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The concept of adaptive thermal comfort was formulated many decades ago and has been validated in numerous field studies. As a result, wider acceptable indoor temperature ranges based on adaptive models have been included in international and national standards and the adaptive approach to thermal comfort is regarded as a significant contributor in achieving low energy building design and operation. Despite the ever-increasing scientific literature on adaptive comfort around the world, the overall understanding of how to translate the adaptive principles into design practice and concepts for operating buildings is still limited, which suggests a gap between the scientific outcomes and the real-world applications. This discussion paper identifies the challenges and gaps in using the principles of adaptive thermal comfort by design practitioners and discusses them in light of relevant research findings. More than 100 literature sources were reviewed in support of the discussion. The paper then proposes a framework that aims to facilitate the adoption of adaptive comfort principles in design and operation of buildings and describes the outline of an imminent guideline for low energy building design based on the concept of adaptive thermal comfort.
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| 4. |
- Hellwig, Runa T., et al.
(author)
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Applying adaptive principles: Developing guidance for planning practice
- 2019
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In: PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMFORT AT THE EXTREMES: ENERGY, ECONOMY AND CLIMATE.
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- One of the major challenges of building industry today is to provide indoor spaces allowing the occupants to make themselves comfortable while achieving low energy consumption. Considering the observed increasing temperatures and a more extreme climate, this becomes even more urgent and difficult to accomplish. It is therefore necessary to rely on approaches than contribute to sustainable building design, such as the adaptive approach to thermal comfort which postulates that people are not passive recipients of their environment but adapt behaviourally, physiologically and psychologically. The concept of adaptive thermal comfort was formulated many decades ago and has been validated in numerous field studies. Temperature thresholds based on adaptive models have been included in international and national standards. However, the overall understanding of how to translate the adaptive principles into design practice and concepts for operating buildings is still limited. Subtask B of IEA Annex 69 addresses this gap: “Strategy and practice of adaptive thermal comfort in low energy buildings”. The subtask aims to develop guidelines for low energy buildings that include the principle of adaptive comfort. This paper discusses the challenges and gaps identified in using the principles of adaptive thermal comfort in building design and operation and outlines the contents of the imminent guideline.
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| 5. |
- Hellwig, Runa T., et al.
(author)
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Design of adaptive opportunities for people in buildings
- 2022
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In: Routledge Handbook of Resilient Thermal Comfort. - London : Routledge. - 9781003244929 ; , s. 193-209
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Adaptive opportunities for people are a key element in the adaptive thermal comfort approach. Research has led to a broad and solid foundation of knowledge, but design processes on how to support people’s behavioural control through building design are still missing. This chapter presents a design process for incorporating adaptive opportunities and discusses how such an approach enhances thermal resilience. The design process is facilitated with tools and exemplary design or operation actions for stakeholders. Non-energy using adaptive opportunities and the passive performance a building affords are the means to enhance not only human thermal comfort in buildings but also human resilience. This is because they offer people concrete options for acting and supporting their belief in their ability and skills to act in case of extreme weather events and can hence facilitate physiological adaptation. They are therefore paramount to build a resilient human-building interaction in a changing environment.
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| 6. |
- Hellwig, Runa T., et al.
(author)
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Guidelines to bridge the gap between adaptive thermal comfort theory and building design and operation practice
- 2020
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In: 11th Windsor Conference: Resilient Comfort, WINDSOR 2020 - Proceedings. ; , s. 529-545
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Adaptive thermal comfort guidelines have been developed within the work of Annex 69: “Strategy and practice of adaptive thermal comfort in low energy buildings”. The guidelines have been established based on a framework for adopting adaptive thermal comfort principles in building design and operation developed by the authors. The guidelines target building practitioners, addressing the critical interrelated role building planners, building operators and occupants play. A successful adaptive thermal comfort design, in which design for human thermal adaptation is foreseen, planned, and carefully embedded in the design and operation intent, is based on broad knowledge and understanding of the multiple quantifiable and non-quantifiable factors influencing human perception, as well as human building interaction. Adaptive building design follows a user-centric integrated design approach and therefore it is critical to consider the occupants' and the operators' role in buildings already in the design phase. This paper focuses on three main challenges identified earlier and how these are addressed in the guidelines, i.e. i) updating prevailing knowledge about human thermophysiology and adaptation, ii) developing a procedure for design of adaptive opportunities, and iii) providing guidance for operational planning and operation of adaptive buildings. The challenge for future research remains to assess the magnitude of how specific design decisions affect particular adaptive mechanisms.
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| 7. |
- Teli, Despoina, 1980, et al.
(author)
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Teaching the concept of adaptive thermal comfort in building design education
- 2020
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In: 16th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate: Creative and Smart Solutions for Better Built Environments, Indoor Air 2020.
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Traditional building design education in the disciplines of building services, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, etc. focusses on quantifiable factors, i.e. factors which can be subject of calculation, simulation and dimensioning. Since non-quantifiable factors are not part of calculation or simulation models, there is a tendency that they are not adequately considered in education and, as a result, in building planning and operation. In the case of human thermal comfort, building professionals are required to understand the mechanisms and impact of non-quantifiable factors related to human thermal comfort and health, most of which are part of the adaptive thermal comfort concept. This paper identifies the challenges in teaching the concept of adaptive thermal comfort through a collection of lived experiences of the authors. The paper then proposes appropriate intended learning outcomes and teaching methods to equip students with the background knowledge, understanding and skills required to consider human adaptation in their designs. It is widely accepted that integrated design is a precondition for a building design that functions well, offers sufficient comfort for their users and can be operated in a sustainable way. Integrated building design requires that different disciplines work closely together and understand and respect their different focus areas and languages. Herein the case of human thermal comfort requires engineers who understand the mechanisms and impact of non-quantifiable factors on human well-being indoors. Within the work of Annex 69: “Strategy and practice of adaptive thermal comfort in low energy buildings” we developed a framework and a guideline for adopting adaptive thermal comfort principles in design and operation of buildings, which may serve as a complementary tool in an integrated design process and inclusion of adaptive thermal comfort in education.
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