Study on Thermal Comfort of Residential Nearly Zero Energy Buildings Based on Human Thermal Adaptation

Abstract

In order to explore the thermal comfort of nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) in cold regions in actual operation, a residential nZEB demonstration building in Shenyang, Liaoning province was selected as the research object. Testing the thermal comfort of the building during winter heating by field investigation and questionnaire survey. A literature survey was conducted on thermal comfort test of ordinary residential buildings in severe cold area over the past decade. We have obtained the thermal neutral temperature based on the statistical regression analysis of data. The results revealed the difference of thermal comfort between ordinary residential buildings and nearly Zero Energy Residential Buildings. In addition, the change law of human thermal sensation and the characteristics of human thermal reaction in nZEB were obtained. Some evidence of thermal adaptation were acquired because of this experiment. It provided references and suggestions for the design and construction of thermal environment of nZEB based on the thermal adaptation of human body.