Abstract
The South African Highveld is a portion on the inland plateau characterized by low winter ambient temperatures. Studies done in several climatic regions around the world have found a positive relationship between inadequate housing and low indoor temperatures during the winter season. Prolonged exposure to low indoor temperature is a threat to human physical health. This study characterizes indoor human thermal comfort conditions in typical low-income residential dwellings during the winter season. Mapping indoor human thermal comfort can assist in exploring the potential for domestic thermal insulation retrofits interventions. In-situ temperature measurements were done in 2014, 2016 and 2017 across three Highveld settlements of kwaZamokuhle, kwaDela, and Jouberton. The sample included a mixture of old (pre-1994), post 1994 Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) as well as non-RDP structures. Findings were that 88% of sampled dwellings in Jouberton 2016, 86% in Jouberton 2017, 62% in kwaDela and 58% in kwaZamokuhle had daily mean temperatures below the WHO guideline of 18°C. These low indoor temperatures indicate poor insulation in these sampled dwellings. Across all settlements, insulated dwellings had higher daily mean indoor temperatures than non-insulated dwellings. These findings indicate the potential to use thermal insulation retrofits in improving indoor thermal conditions as the majority of dwellings are non-insulated thereby exposing occupants to low indoor temperatures.
Highlights
Studies conducted in different climatic regions across the world have found a positive relationship between inadequate housing and poor indoor human thermal conditions (WHO, 2011)
The lowest ambient temperature across all study sites was recorded in Jourbeton 2017 at -3°C, while an ambient maximum of 27.5°C was recorded in Jourbeton during 2016
Out of the three sites located on the Highveld, 88% of dwellings in Jouberton in 2016, 86% in 2017, 64% in kwaDela and 61% in kwaZamokuhle of sampled dwellings had indoor temperatures of less than 18°C
Summary
Studies conducted in different climatic regions across the world have found a positive relationship between inadequate housing and poor indoor human thermal conditions (WHO, 2011). Wright et al, (2005), Summerfield et al, (2007) and Sakka et al, (2008) are some of the indoor human thermal comfort studies done in the European region. It was limited to summer months while this current study focuses on winter months. The current study fills the knowledge gap that exists in the field of human indoor thermal conditions during winter seasons. Human indoor thermal comfort is a subjective measure of peoples’ satisfaction with indoor temperatures. It varies across cultures, individuals and geographical regions (Toe & Kubota, 2013; ASHRAE, 2010)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
