The balance of radiant and air temperature for warmth in older women

Abstract

Fifty-six women over 55 years of age (mean age 67.5 yr, standard deviation 6.4 yr) experienced three environmental conditions of equal predicted subjective warmth, but different mean radiant and air temperatures (air temperature 26.9°C, mean radiant temperature 17.3°C; air temperature 23.0°C, mean radiant temperature 23.7°C; air temperature 19.2°C, mean radiant temperature 26.8°C). After 40 minutes exposure subjects rated the environment on a number of subjective scales. There were no significant differences between conditions. This supports a previous finding, with young men as subjects, that radiant and warm-air environments are not perceived differentially and also suggests that the relative importance of air and mean radiant temperature for warmth is not affected by age.