Study on Adaptive Thermal Comfort in Naturally Ventilated Secondary School Buildings in Nepal

Abstract

Most of the Nepalese school buildings are naturally ventilated and poor in thermal insulation which causes thermal discomfort during cold and hot seasons. Thermally uncomfortable classroom causes a negative impact on the academic performance of students. So, there should be serious attention to improve and optimize the indoor thermal environment of the classroom. This study investigated the students’ perceptions towards thermal comfort in naturally ventilated higher secondary school buildings during the autumn season of 2017 in a temperate climate (Dhading, Kathmandu and Nuwakot districts) of Nepal. 22 classrooms (33 students in average in each class) of 8 school buildings with a total of 818 students aged 12-18 years, 40% males and 60% females have participated. The thermal measurement and thermal comfort survey were conducted during the regular lesson period in each classroom. Students voted at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the class in 15 minutes’ interval of 45 minutes’ lesson period. More than 76% responses of the students were found in the comfort zone with mean comfort temperature 27°C and the preferred temperature 26°C. The findings of this study may hopefully invoke the awareness for the school building designers, teachers and students to control the classroom environment without the use of air conditioning system.