Wintertime outdoor thermal sensations and comfort in cold-humid environments of Chongqing China

Abstract

People's outdoor thermal comfort under hot conditions have been widely investigated, while the ones in cold environments have not. To address this gap, this paper presented an empirical study for understanding people's thermal sensations and comfort in cold-humid environments of Chongqing, a typical city with cold-humid winter in China. Based on data collected by field measurement and questionnaire survey, we statistically analysed respondents’ wintertime thermal sensation vote, thermal comfort vote, and thermal acceptable vote for microclimate parameters in different scenarios including age group, weather, and space. The results indicate that activity dominated thermal sensations and comfort, and thermal feelings got better with activity intensity. An experience of staying in air-conditioned environments was better to improve thermal sensations, while outdoor duration deteriorated thermal perceptions. Those impacts were intervened by weather, age, and spatial characteristics. Solar radiation and air temperature were critical for thermal perceptions, while respondents’ satisfaction with them was less than that with wind and relative humidity. Wind generally harmed thermal sensation vote and thermal comfort vote, if the wind could make a significant difference. Accordingly, some suggestions were proposed for creating healthy and comfortable outdoor thermal environments, which is imperative to support proper urban planning and design.