Outdoor thermal comfort and adaptive behaviors in a university campus in China's hot summer-cold winter climate region

Abstract

Outdoor thermal comfort in the university campus is an important issue for encouraging students' outdoor activities and interactions. This research conducted field measurement and questionnaire survey in a university campus in Mianyang, located in the hot summer and cold winter climate zone according to China's climate classification for building design and the dry-winter subtropical climate according to the Köppen climate classification. The measurements were conducted over six days in winter and four days in summer; meanwhile, the survey collected 523 responses. Respondents preferred “slightly warm” in winter and “slightly cool” in summer. The range of 90% acceptable PET (Physiologically Equivalent Temperature) was higher than 20.2 °C in winter, lower than 35.6 °C in summer, and between 20.5 °C and 35.7 °C in a year. When PET increased by one degree Celsius, the probability of “using umbrella”, “taking off clothes” and “going to a shaded place” increased by 22.6%, 4.9% and 16.6%, respectively; while the probability of “staying under the sun” decreased by 17.5%. Neutral temperatures in different seasons were examined and compared with those from other studies. These findings provide evidence for planning and design strategies to improve the thermal environment of outdoor spaces.