Development of an adaptive thermal comfort model for energy-saving building design in Japan

Abstract

In order to quantify the seasonal differences in the comfort temperature and to develop a domestic adaptive model for highly insulated Japanese dwellings, thermal measurements and a thermal comfort survey were conducted. We collected 19,081 thermal comfort votes from 94 residents of 69 flats. The results suggest that the residents are highly satisfied with the thermal environment of their dwellings. People are highly adapted to the thermal condition of the dwellings, and the comfort temperature has seasonal variation. An adaptive model for these dwellings was derived from the data, to relate the indoor comfort temperature to the prevailing outdoor temperature. Perhaps because of the high insulation of the condominiums, the seasonal differences of comfort temperature and the regression coefficient of the adaptive model are smaller than those of detached houses. Adaptive building design and adaptive thermal comfort of people are important for energy-saving building design.