Abstract
Thermal factors not only affect the thermal comfort sensation of occupants, but also affect their arousal level, productivity, and health. Therefore, it is necessary to control thermal factors appropriately. In this study, we aim to design a thermal environment that improves both the arousal level and thermal comfort of the occupants. To this end, we investigated the relationships between the physiological indices, subjective evaluation values, and task performance under several conditions of changes in the indoor ambient temperature. In particular, we asked subjects to perform a mathematical task and subjective evaluation related to their thermal comfort sensation and drowsiness levels. Simultaneously, we measured their physiological parameters, such as skin temperature, respiration rate, electroencephalography, and electrocardiography, continuously. We investigated the relationship between the comfort sensation and drowsiness level of occupants, and the physiological indices. From the results, it was confirmed that changes in the indoor ambient temperature can improve both the thermal comfort and the arousal levels of occupants. Moreover, we proposed the evaluation indices of the thermal comfort and the drowsiness level of occupants using physiological indices.
Highlights
The control of indoor environmental quality (IEQ, which consists of visual elements, olfactory elements, and thermal factors, etc.) is important for improvements of the comfort and productivity of occupants
We aimed to investigate the characteristics of changes in the arousal level and feelings of thermal comfort of occupants, and the relationship between them when thermal factors are changed
To propose evaluation indices that can evaluate the thermal comfort and arousal level of occupants continuously and quantitatively, we investigated the relationship between the arousal level, feelings of thermal comfort, and physiological indices, which can be measured continuously and quantitatively
Summary
The control of indoor environmental quality (IEQ, which consists of visual elements, olfactory elements, and thermal factors, etc.) is important for improvements of the comfort and productivity of occupants. It was shown that productivity improved when the arousal level of occupants was high, and this was related to the indoor ambient temperature that occupants felt as cool or cold [8,9]. The arousal level was increased by outer stimulation and was maintained at a high state for several minutes [12,13] Based on these results of previous studies, we hypothesized that thermal stimulation due to cooling can improve the arousal level of occupants. A continuous and quantitative evaluation of the thermal comfort and arousal level of occupants using indices, which can be measured both continuously and quantitatively, such as physiological signals, is needed to clarify the design requirements of changes in the indoor ambient temperature to improve both the arousal level and thermal comfort. To propose evaluation indices that can evaluate the thermal comfort and arousal level of occupants continuously and quantitatively, we investigated the relationship between the arousal level, feelings of thermal comfort, and physiological indices, which can be measured continuously and quantitatively
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