Analysis of Gender Differences in Thermal Sensations in Outdoor Thermal Comfort: A Field Survey in Northern India

Abstract

Outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) is a vital aspect for healthy livability, efficient working, and society’s wellbeing. OTC is negatively impacted by the climate change. Not only do meteorological factors influence people’s sensations, but some non-meteorological factors also affect people’s senses in outdoor spaces. Among those, gender is one of the most significant factors. This work investigates gender difference in thermal sensations based on questionnaires and objective measurements of meteorological parameters in Haryana’s hot semi-arid climate in Northern India. Physiological equivalent temperature index (PET) was employed to determine the effect of meteorological parameters on the 248human body. The values of PET were calculated using RayMan Pro software. By applying linear regression analysis between the participants’ thermal sensations and PET, the neutral temperature range was obtained by selecting –0.5 ≤ TSV ≤ + 0.5 interval on the ASHRAE 7-point sensation scale. The male participants’ neutral range was found to be 22.04–32.24°C with a neutral temperature of 27.14°C, while the neutral temperature range for female participants was found to be 25.97–35.77°C with a neutral temperature of 30.87°C. The air temperature was the most significant parameter, followed by solar radiation, impacting both males’ and females’ thermal sensations. The results show that the female participants feel neutral at a higher temperature than male participants within the thermal environment. The findings of the study could help the various stakeholders associated with the environmental impact assessment and urban designers in developing the outdoor spaces in gender-based educational institutions and other public places such as the shopping mall, parlor, etc. Developing outdoor places would help in mitigating climate change.