Comfort Studies Research Articles

Summer outdoor thermal comfort assessment in city squares—A case study of cold dry winter, hot summer climate zone

Human thermal perception varies with climate. The Dwa climate zone covers vast areas. Conducting outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) studies here would benefit energy efficiency and the economy. However, since OTC research methods are not standardized, different research methods hamper comparing studies in the Dwa climate. This paper aims to determine the summer OTC of typical Dalian squares in the Dwa climate. Dalian is located in the cold A zone (2A) of the China Building Climate Division. The thermal environment of three typical squares was field measured, and a questionnaire survey of the residents was conducted. 33.2 % of Dalian residents evaluated the thermal environment as neutral, and 39.3 % considered it comfortable. And psychological perception and physical perception were not the same. Multiple methods were used to calculate outdoor thermal benchmarks and calibrate thermal stress for three thermal indexes, SET*, PET, and UTCI. Furthermore, PET, with a prediction accuracy of 25.3 %, was determined to be the best indicator applicable to Dalian in the summer. Finally, a comparison of studies under the Dwa climate zone, including Tianjin and Harbin, reconfirmed the mobility of the human thermal zone. These findings are precious and can contribute significantly to ensuring the sustainability of the outdoor environment.

Evaluation, Simulation, and Empirical Study of Community Microclimate Comfort

Urban microclimates directly impact the comfort of living environments and human health. This study focuses on a community within a university in Guangzhou and constructs a corresponding index system from the perspectives of regional climate analysis and architectural layout. It summarizes the key spatial elements influencing thermal comfort in living environments. The results indicate: (1) Guangzhou is located in a typical hot-summer and warm-winter region, characterized by a humid climate; (2) Using a university community in Guangzhou, Guangdong, as the research subject, a comprehensive comparison is made between simulated and empirically measured comfort evaluations. A related factor analysis is conducted to identify the key factors affecting wind efficiency. Among these, variables such as daily average temperature at Panyu Station, average wind speed at Panyu Station, and average building height 50 meters from the sampling point are found to have correlations with both simulated and measured thermal comfort indicators; (3) The analysis reveals significant differences between simulated and actual comfort, primarily due to the influences of architectural layouts, spatial arrangements, and real environmental factors.

Niepewność pomiarów średniej temperatury promieniowania za pomocą termometrów kulistych = Uncertainty of mean radiant-temperature measurements using globe thermometers

In the analysis of the human heat balance, the biggest problem is to precisely determine the amount of energy absorbed by a human organism under dynamically changing solar conditions and while being surrounded by many different surfaces that can absorb, emit or reflect solar radiation in different ways. Therefore, in thermal comfort studies some simplifications of the radiation field around human body are necessary and thus the concept of mean radiant temperature (Mrt) is most often used. Mrt values can be derived either from direct instrumental measurements or calculated by one of the microclimate models. The most accurate way to determine the Tmrt outdoors is by integral radiation measurements and the calculation of angular factors (i.e. the proportion of radiation received by the human body from different directions). This method involves simultaneous measurements of long- and short-wave radiation flux densities in six directions, which requires three sets of net radiometers. Although this method of Mrt determination describes the radiation environment accurately and independently of the variable wind field, it requires the use of expensive and complex measurement devices. Cheap and easy to operate alternative offers globe thermometer. In steady state conditions, readings from the air temperature sensor inside the globe thermometer (tg) will reflect the convective and radiative heat exchange around the globe thermometer. Knowing tg, as well as globe emissivity and diameter, the Mrt may be calculated. In this research three different globe thermometers were used to determine Mrt: 15-cm standard globe thermometer (SGT) and two 4-cm custom made acrylic globe thermometers (AGT) painted in black and grey. The measurements were conducted in the summer in Warsaw, on two selected green areas, under sunny and warm weather conditions. In each location Mrt measurements were taken in two spots – in the shade of trees and in the open grassy spaces, with high SVF. Our results demonstrate, that globe thermometers, although being relatively cheap and less complex instruments for determining Mrt, can be used to a limited extend, due to high instability of their indications under significant radiative loads.

Experimental investigation of TABS and all air system in tropical savanna climate: A thermal comfort and energy performance study

Experimental investigation of TABS and all air system in tropical savanna climate: A thermal comfort and energy performance study

Personal comfort models in long-term monitoring using physiological data from wearable sensors

Personal Comfort Models (PCMs) propose a new approach for human-centric comfort studies overcoming the one-size-fits-all of the conventional models. This research addresses the development of PCMs based on a seven-month long-term monitoring campaign including continuous environmental and physiological data collection through wearables and daily survey submission about subjects’ sensations. To tackle the influence of subjects’ environmental exposure history, time series of environmental data of different durations were used to predict individuals’ perception via Machine Learning models with Support Vector Machine and Random Forest methods. The accuracy and F1-score values of seven different PCMs were confronted for each subject and for the whole group (nine people). The number of datapoints per subject and their answers’ consistency during time affected the models’ accuracy, and the inclusion of physiological signals improved the models’ performance. When considering the whole dataset, the comfort model accuracy decreases supporting that individual subjectivity have an important impact in the environmental perception prediction.

Indoor thermal and visual well-being of people with autism: preliminary results from a field study in Denmark

The literature contains very little knowledge regarding the indoor well-being of people with autism spectrum conditions (ASC). Though, when dealing with higher autism levels and specific co-morbidities, the lack of autonomy of potential subjects makes standard comfort studies difficult or even impossible. As part of the EU-funded project “SENSEwellbeing”, the present paper shows the preliminary results of a field study on the indoor thermal and visual well-being of non-autonomous people with ASC, performed in a Danish care-center. Due to the fragility of the subjects involved and ethical issues related, we had to overcome several challenges. A determining example is the limited possibility to directly involve the subjects and make interventions in their private spaces in comfort-related experiments. For this reason, the caregivers working in the facility were involved in a semi-structured interview to indirectly characterize the thermal and visual preferences of subjects. Additionally, short- and long-term measurements of indoor quantities were taken in common rooms and empty living spaces. The interviews’ outcomes were linked to the environmental measurement, allowing a preliminary characterization of the adequacy of indoor design in terms of well-being of non-autonomous people with ASC. The study highlights the differences in perception of thermal and visual environment among people with ASC, and the necessity to find solutions to more directly involve non-autonomous subjects in studies on the indoor environment. The present research may also inspire other studies with people with special needs, whose comfort perception would otherwise be challenging to collect.

A study of the thermal comfort in urban mountain parks and its physical influencing factors

Urban thermal comforts are increasingly holding people's attention due to global warming and urban heat islands. Urban parks can absorb sunlight radiation, which reduces air temperature, improving urban microclimates. Various factors in the park are confirmed to be effective in heat mitigation. However, there are few studies on thermal comfort in urban mountain parks, and mountain areas might cause peculiar climatic conditions owing to their particular landforms. To fill this gap in the research, this study explored thermal comfort in mountain parks and the environmental factors that would affect thermal comfort. A field measurement in the summertime (July & August) of 2018, it was found that trees, the river, and the area of parks could adjust the thermal comforts of mountain parks. Their effects varied throughout the day, and the impacts of trees were most pronounced at noon and late afternoon, while the influence of rivers and park areas was most pronounced at noon. Increasing the leaf area index by 1 point could result in decreases in physiological equivalent temperature, land surface temperature, and solar radiation level by 3.90 °C, 2.69 °C, and 270.10 W/m2, respectively. The findings have practical implications for future urban mountain park design works.

Critical Review of the Literature on Thermal Comfort in Educational Buildings: Study of the Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Thermal comfort in educational buildings affects not only the well-being of students but also their academic performance. Over time, various methods have been developed to assess it. However, none of them takes into account the adaptation of students of different ages, which is an important issue. In recent years, the study of thermal comfort has become very important due to energy-saving measures and ventilation protocols to combat the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Therefore, it is necessary to gather all the information to guide future research. Thus, this paper presents a comprehensive review of field studies on thermal comfort in classrooms at different educational levels. The focus is on those conducted during the global pandemic of COVID-19. It has been observed that students from climates with a higher degree of variation have shown a better adaptation. Children also tended to feel less affected by changing temperatures. High school and university students showed a greater range of dissatisfaction with heat than with cold. The adaptive approach is more suitable for recognising the comfort needs of all age groups. However, by using this approach together with the Fanger method, more reliable results have been reported. In most of the studies, comfort levels were found to be lower than those indicated by the standards, highlighting the need for guidelines adapted to the thermal comfort conditions of all students. Finally, the various natural ventilation measures to avoid COVID-19 infection have led to a decrease in comfort levels, especially in winter.

A study of waterside microenvironmental factors and their effects on summer outdoor thermal comfort in a Cfa-climate campus

Outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) studies explore outdoor subjects’ responses to their thermal environment, usually evaluated using the neutral temperature (NT). This study investigated the influences of microenvironmental factors around a waterbody on thermal perceptions, using questionnaires and meteorological measurements at the Central Lake of Southwest University of Science and Technology (SWUST) in Mianyang. Microenvironmental factors included sky view factor (SVF) and distance from the lake (DFL). It was found that people felt most comfortable in the shade of trees although some volunteers voted artificial canopy as their preferred thermal adaptation element. In addition, a linear regression yielded an NT of 28.44 °C in Mianyang during the summer of 2022. There were NT variations among different measurement sites (e.g., on the east shore, it was 28.18 °C on the waterside, 27.11 °C away from the lake, and 25.53 °C far from the lake; while it was 27.57 °C under the tree crown, 25.11 °C on the lawn, and 29.13 °C in the square). This variation may be due to human adaptation towards microenvironmental factors and their effects on microclimate. The variation in thermal responses owing to microenvironmental differences (different NTs at various types of sites) might be a novel finding in the field of OTC. This study provides important directions for microenvironment design in the future for OTC improvement.

Temperature and Humidity Data Evaluation of Tight Sportswear during Motion Based on Intelligent Modeling

Abstract A neural network structure of Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) is proposed which could be used to predict the temperature and humidity of other key parts from the temperature and humidity data of some parts of the human body when wearing tight sportswear, so as to realize the temperature and humidity data prediction of all key points of the human body. The temperature and humidity of different people wearing tights were collected by DHT sensors. The experimental results show that the LSTM neural network structure proposed has higher prediction accuracy than other algorithms, and the model evaluates the feasibility of temperature and humidity data of tights in a state of motion, which facilitates the study of dynamic thermal and humid comfort and reduces the time cost of analyzing the temperature and humidity distribution and changing the law during human movement. It will effectively promote the study of temperature and humidity changes when people wear sports tights, provide theoretical reference for the study of human skin temperature in the field of sports medicine, and provide practical guidance for the application of human skin temperature changes in sports clothing production, diagnosis and prevention of sports injuries.

Adaptive thermal comfort in the offices of three climates of North-East India

Buildings not only provide shelter to the occupants but also security, safety and comfort, as well as signifying economic and socio-cultural status. The high energy intensity of buildings has become a matter of concern worldwide in the context of climate change and global warming. Adaptive comfort principles and guidelines afford greater design opportunities for reduced energy intensity without compromising occupant thermal comfort and indoor environmental quality performance. However, thermal adaptation opportunities of office occupants in the North-Eastern part of India are rarely addressed by previous thermal comfort studies conducted in the Indian subcontinent. A yearlong questionnaire-based adaptive thermal comfort study with concurrent indoor environmental measurements was conducted in naturally ventilated office buildings located in three locations, i.e., Tezpur, Imphal and Shillong, representing the climatic zones of North-East India. A total of 2326 valid questionnaire responses were collected. ASHRAE Class-II field study protocols, seven-point thermal sensation and five-point preference scales were used to collect objective and subjective comfort assessments. It was found that the clothing insulation (clo) levels worn by occupants varied non-linearly with indoor temperatures. The estimated preferred temperatures for building occupants in Tezpur, Imphal and Shillong were 24 °C, 23.5 °C and 22 °C, respectively. Probit analysis of thermal sensation data indicated that the indoor temperature stimulus associated with a shift of one thermal sensation unit differed between the warm and cool side of the 7-point thermal sensation scale. Increasing indoor air velocity up to 0.8m/s shifted the upper threshold of discomfort to 32 °C. It was also found that 80% of office occupants were comfortable within the temperature range of 25 °C–30 °C. The adaptive comfort model derived from the current database shows lower sensitivity of subjects to outdoor temperature changes compared to existing International standards like ASHRAE Standard 55 or EN16798. The present study demonstrates the potential for low-energy, naturally ventilated office design strategies in similar climatic conditions in North-East India and other parts of the world. Above all, it enriches the worldwide thermal comfort database.

Effects of thermal environment and air quality on outdoor thermal comfort in urban parks of Tianjin, China.

The comfort level of outdoor thermal environments is affected by several factors. Previous studies of thermal comfort have generally investigated the main microclimatic factors as dependent variables, such as the temperature, wind speed, humidity, and thermal radiation, but the influence of the air quality has rarely been explored. In this study, we acquired meteorological element observations and conducted questionnaire surveys in Peach Blossom Park, Hebei University of Technology, and Xigu Park in Tianjin. We analyzed the effects of the outdoor air quality and thermal environment on the thermal comfort in order to provide a theoretical basis for comprehensive evaluations of the outdoor environment and the mechanism. The results showed that thermal resistance of clothing and ambient temperature followed a negative step change, where people generally reduced the minimum amount of clothing when the temperature exceeded 28 °C. One unit change in the thermal sensation vote (TSV) occurred for every 11 °C rise in the physiological equivalent temperature (PET). The neutral PET was 21.68 °C, and the comfortable PET was about 23 °C. The air quality index (AQI) and air satisfaction were negatively correlated, and satisfaction decreased by 1 unit for every change of 230 AQI. The transitional season was most comfortable when the temperature felt slightly cool (TSV = -0.70). The neutral TSV was 0.507 in the summer and -0.334 in the winter. Air quality had a significant effect on the thermal comfort vote (TCV) (p = 0.0485 < 0.05). The effect of PET on TCV was highly significant (p < 0.01).

Comfort Study of General Aviation Pilot Seats Based on Improved Particle Swam Algorithm (IPSO) and Support Vector Machine Regression (SVR)

Little work has been carried out to predict the comfort of aircraft seats, a component in close contact with the human body during travel. In order to more accurately predict the nonlinear and complex relationship between subjective and objective evaluations of comfort, this paper proposes a prediction method based on the Improved Particle Swarm Algorithm (IPSO) and optimized Support Vector Machine Regression (SVR). Focusing on the problems of the too-fast convergence and low accuracy of the traditional particle swarm algorithm (PSO), the improved particle swarm algorithm (IPSO) is obtained by linearly decreasing the dynamic adjustments of inertia weight ω, self-learning factor c1, and social factor c2; then, the penalty parameter C and kernel function parameter σ of SVR are optimized by the IPSO algorithm, and the comfort prediction of IPSO-SVR is established. The prediction accuracy of IPSO-SVR was 94.00%, the root mean square error RMSE was 0.37, the mean absolute value error MAE was 0.32, and the goodness of fit R2 was 0.92. The results show that the optimized IPSO-SVR prediction model can more accurately predict seat comfort under different angles and backrest tilt angles and can provide reference and research value for related industries. The results show that the optimized nonlinear prediction model of IPSO-SVR has higher accuracy, and its prediction method is feasible and generalizable, meaning it can provide a reliable basis for the prediction of seat comfort under different angles and backrest inclinations, as well as providing reference and research value for related industries.

Experimental study on human multi-node thermal sensitivity and thermal demand oriented to uniform environment

Related research indicates that the local cooling and heating stimuli have become advantageous factors for making people comfortable. The systematic study of multi-node thermal comfort can help draw on advantages and avoid disadvantages. Hence, this study applies cooling and heating stimuli by using a brass thermal probe with a diameter of 10 mm, thus investigating the characteristic of the human body's multi-node thermal sensitivity and thermal demand in a uniform environment. The stimuli temperature is set as 31±7 °C and eight body parts are selected to place five local skin spots for each. The temperature of each skin spot is measured before and after stimuli, and the subjects are asked to fill in the subjective questionnaire during the experiments. Results show that the face is the most sensitive to cooling, with a 77% increase compared to the least sensitive neck. The back and abdomen are the most sensitive to heating, up 91% and 77% compared with the least sensitive lower legs. The face, upper arms, and forearms are more accessible to achieve cool comfort than average, and the back, abdomen, and upper arms are more likely to attain warm comfort. In addition, females are reported 1.5 times more sensitive to cooling than males while the cooling demand of males is greater than that of females. The mean cooling demand of males is 1.38 and that of females is 3.92. The results obtained from this study can provide a reference to realize better thermal comfort in a uniform environment.

Ride comfort and segmental vibration transmissibility analysis of an automobile passenger model under whole body vibration

The examination of seated occupants’ ride comfort under whole-body vibration is a complex topic that involves multiple factors. Whole-body vibration refers to the mechanical vibration that is transmitted to the entire body through a supporting surface, such as a vehicle seat, when traveling on rough or uneven surfaces. There are several methods to assess ride comfort under whole-body vibration, such as subjective assessments, objective measurements, and mathematical models. Subjective assessments involve asking participants to rate their perceived level of discomfort or satisfaction during the vibration exposure, typically using a numerical scale or questionnaire. Objective measurements include accelerometers or vibration meters that record the actual physical vibrations transmitted to the body during the exposure. Mathematical models use various physiological and biomechanical parameters to predict the level of discomfort based on the vibration data. The examination of seated occupants ride comfort under whole-body vibration has been of great interest for many years. In this paper, a multi-body biomechanical model of a seated occupant with a backrest is proposed to perform ride comfort analysis. The novelty of the present model is that it represents complete passenger by including thighs, legs, and foot which were neglected in the past research. A multi-objective firefly algorithm is developed to evaluate the biomechanical parameters (mass, stiffness and damping) of the proposed model. Based on the optimized parameters, segmental transmissibilities are calculated and compared with experimental readings. The proposed model is then combined with a 7-dofs commercial car model to perform a ride comfort study. The ISO 2631-1:1997 ride comfort standards are used to compare the simulated segmental accelerations. Additionally, the influence of biomechanical parameters on most critical organs is analyzed to improve ride comfort. The outcomes of the analysis reveal that seated occupants perceive maximum vibration in the 3–6 Hz frequency range. To improve seated occupants' ride comfort, automotive designers must concentrate on the pelvis region. The adopted methodology and outcomes are helpful to evaluate protective measures in automobile industries. Furthermore, these procedures may be used to reduce the musculoskeletal disorders in seated occupants.

Evaluating thermal comfort and neutral temperature in residential apartments in hot and dry climate: A case study in Shiraz, Iran

Determination of thermal comfort, as one of the main goals of climate design, is of great importance due to its direct impact on human productivity and health, the interior space quality, and the energy consumption reduction, regarding the fact that most of the human activities take place in the house. Though providing crucial design information, determination and analysis of the thermal comfort range is a challenging issue due to variety of climatic, physiological, and cultural influencing factors, which in turn, necessitate field studies. Considering the critical need of determining thermal comfort range for each climate, this research aimed to describe field study of thermal comfort conducted in mid-rise residential apartments with open courtyards in hot and dry climate of Shiraz, Iran to provide neutral temperature, thermal comfort range, and the relationship between neutral temperature and indoor as well as outdoor temperature. The data and information needed, based on the experimental and field methods, were collected using the two main methods of questionnaire and measurement and the results were discussed with analytical and inferential description. In addition to a positive correlation between indoor air temperature and PMV as well as AMV, the findings of survey and regression analysis reveals a good relationship between neutral temperature and indoor temperature and also, between indoor comfort and outdoor conditions. Furthermore, a neutral temperature of 27.18 °C and the comfort band (23.2–30.8 °C) vindicated that respondents achieve comfort at a higher indoor air temperatures compared with the recommendations of international standards such as ISO7730. Moreover, the regression equation between the preferred and neutral temperature suggests that the neutral temperature can be used as a suitable criterion for predicting indoor temperature.

Computer vision-based smart HVAC control system for university classroom in a subtropical climate

To respond to the increasing demand for a comfortable, productive and energy efficient study environment, the application of artificial intelligence technologies in the smart control of Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems plays an increasingly important role. This research uses a classroom, equipped with a traditional central HVAC system, in Hong Kong as a case study to demonstrate an innovative approach for a more intelligent and efficient HVAC system. Through a field investigation (i.e. measurement and questionnaire) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation, it is found that the number and spatial location of students have a significant impact on their thermal comfort. Applying a computer vision model (YOLOv5) detected dynamic occupant information (variations in student numbers and locations) in a classroom, the SimScale (a cloud-native simulation platform) was then used to estimate the current thermal comfort state (predicted mean vote, PMV) and change in PMV (ΔPMV) of students in the classroom. Furthermore, a fuzzy logic control system is implemented to adjust air temperature and air velocity based on the simulation results. Preliminary scenario analysis has proven the feasibility of the proposed smart HVAC system for classrooms, as well as its ability to provide better quality of thermal comfort with more robust control. This study contributes to the smart and low-carbon retrofitting of university buildings with traditional central HVAC systems, while also serving as a benchmark for the energy-efficient transformation of HVAC systems in other types of indoor spaces.

Trauma-specific mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for women with post-traumatic stress disorder and a history of domestic abuse: intervention refinement and a randomised feasibility trial (coMforT study)

BackgroundWomen who have experienced domestic violence and abuse (DVA) are at increased risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD). In 2014–2015, we developed a prototype trauma-specific mindfulness-based cognitive therapy curriculum (TS-MBCT) for the treatment of PTSD in a DVA population. This study aimed to refine the prototype TS-MBCT and evaluate the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) testing its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.MethodsIntervention refinement phase was informed by evidence synthesis from a literature review, qualitative interviews with professionals and DVA survivors, and a consensus exercise with experts in trauma and mindfulness. We tested the refined TS-MBCT intervention in an individually randomised parallel group feasibility trial with pre-specified progression criteria, a traffic light system, and embedded process and health economics evaluations.ResultsThe TS-MBCT intervention consisted of eight group sessions and home practice. We screened 109 women in a DVA agency and recruited 20 (15 TS-MBCT, 5 self-referral to National Health Service (NHS) psychological treatment), with 80% follow-up at 6 months. Our TS-MBCT intervention had 73% uptake, 100% retention, and high acceptability. Participants suggested recruitment via multiple agencies, and additional safety measures. Randomisation into the NHS control arm did not work due to long waiting lists and previous negative experiences. Three self-administered PTSD/CPTSD questionnaires produced differing outcomes thus a clinician administered measure might work better. We met six out of nine feasibility progression criteria at green and three at amber targets demonstrating that it is possible to conduct a full-size RCT of the TS-MBCT intervention after making minor amendments to recruitment and randomisation procedures, the control intervention, primary outcomes measures, and intervention content. At 6 months, none of the PTSD/CPTSD outcomes ruled out a clinically important difference between trial arms indicating that it is reasonable to proceed to a full-size RCT to estimate these outcomes with greater precision.ConclusionsA future RCT of the coMforT TS-MBCT intervention should have an internal pilot, recruit from multiple DVA agencies, NHS and non-NHS settings, have an active control psychological treatment, use robust randomisation and safety procedures, and clinician-administered measures for PTSD/CPTSD.Trial registrationISRCTN64458065 11/01/2019.

Thermal Comfort Analysis in the Smart Sustainable Building with Correlation Development

The paper presents the results of the experimental study of thermal comfort in the smart building of Kielce University of Technology (Poland). The experiments were conducted throughout four seasons of the year and focused on developing a modified thermal comfort correlation that could determine the thermal sensations of room users more accurately than the standard methodology. Twelve groups of volunteers participated in the study, and thermal sensations were analysed for both genders separately. Even though the thermal environment was not considered overwhelmingly favourable (with 75% of men and 60% of women providing positive assessment), thermal acceptability was high. It amounted to 90% (the same for both genders). The air temperature of 22°C proved to be most preferable. The BMI index and CO2 concentration were found to influence thermal sensations and were incorporated into a modified correlation, which provided more accurate results than the original Fanger model of thermal comfort.

Investigation of summertime thermal comfort at the residences of elderly people in the warm and humid climate of India

According to WHO (World Health Organization) data, people spend at least 80% of their lives indoors, with the percentage rising to 95% for older people with mobility impairments. Creating a thermally comfortable indoor environment is essential for improving users’ productivity and well-being, particularly for those who spend maximum time indoors, such as elderly people. India’s ageing population is increasing significantly; however, there is lack of studies in the field of thermal comfort for the elderly. The main aim of this paper is to determine the thermal comfort range of elderly people in residences of warm and humid climates during summers in India and to find out the adaptive actions opted by the elderly population to achieve thermal comfort. 740 responses were collected from elderly people through questionnaire surveys along with simultaneous field measurements during the summer. The linear regression analysis found the occupant’s comfort temperature of 30 °C and the comfort range was found to be 28.5 °C- 31.5 °C, which was narrower than the younger people’s thermal comfort studies at residences. The neutral temperature was higher for the male elderlies than the female elderlies, which was highly correlated with their clothing adjustments. The probit analysis revealed that 90% of the elderly felt comfortable when the operative temperature varied between 26.9 °C and 30.9 °C. Clothing adjustments and taking cold showers are the most preferred behavioural actions by the elderlies in summer, whereas changing the cooking time and tying up hair are the most preferred behavioural adaptations to overcome thermal discomfort for female elderlies.