Thermal Comfort Perception Research Articles

Investigation on the Thermal Condition of a Traditional Cold-Lane in Summer in Subtropical Humid Climate Region of China

A Chinese traditional narrow street, named Cold-Lane, can create a microclimatic zone that provides pedestrian thermal comfort under hot and humid climate conditions. This phenomenon was observed through experimental measurement during the summer of 2016. The heat transfer rate over the pedestrian body surface was calculated to reveal why pedestrians experience a cool sensation, and computational flow dynamics (CFD) simulation was carried out to study the influence of the street aspect ratio on the shading effect. It was found that the perception of thermal comfort can be attributed mainly to the radiation between the relatively cool surrounding walls and the human body, and the wind velocity has little effect on sensible heat dissipation. The cool horizontal and vertical surfaces in the street canyon are mainly due to the shading effect as a result of the small aspect ratio, which is a typical characteristic of the traditional Chinese street. The shading effect of the high walls on both sides creates the cooling effect of this narrow street.

A Fuzzy Logic-Based Automation toward Intelligent Air Conditioning Systems

Most of the energy used in residential buildings originates from air conditioners. Meanwhile, air conditioner manufacturers are addressing this issue by the production of efficient air conditioners. However, the convertible frequency air conditioners are expensive, up to 60% higher than the fixed frequency control air conditioners. Besides the human behavior in determining the temperature, setpoint plays an important role regardless of the air conditioners technology used. This study incorporated intelligence in setting up the temperature by means of specially designed remote control. The Tsukamoto fuzzy reasoning was utilized as a decision making system with two inputs, namely the outdoor temperature and the number of occupants. The device used DHT22 as the temperature sensor and HC-SR04 to detect incoming and outgoing occupants. Furthermore, the fuzzy inference system generated infrared signal associated with the temperature setpoint. This signal was received by the air conditioner receiver to adjust the temperature setpoint accordingly. The result of this study showed that the fuzzy inference system determines the temperature setpoint appropriately under variations of surrounding temperature and the number of occupants. The proposed approach yielded a satisfactory perception of thermal comfort and also a promising approach to energy conservation.

Thermo-behavioural responses to orally applied l-menthol exhibit sex-specific differences during exercise in a hot environment

AimsThis study investigated the efficacy of l-menthol mouth-rinsing on thermal sensation and perceived effort in females and males, using a fixed-rating of perceived exertion (RPE) exercise protocol in a hot environment. MethodsTwenty-two participants (eleven females, eleven males) completed two trials using a fixed-RPE protocol at an exercise intensity between ‘hard’ and ‘very hard’, equating to 16 on the RPE scale at ~35 °C. Participants adjusted power output to maintain RPE-16. In a randomised, double-blind, crossover design, l-menthol or a control mouthwash was administered at an orally neutral temperature (~32 °C) prior to exercise and at 10 min intervals thereafter. Measures of mechanical power output, core temperature, heart rate, perception of thermal sensation and thermal comfort, and whole-body sweat loss are reported. ResultsThermal sensation was lowered by l-menthol in both sexes (P < 0.05), however during exercise this was only maintained for 40% of the trial duration in females. Thermal comfort did not differ between conditions (P > 0.05). No differences in exercise duration were observed compared to control, despite a ~4% and ~6% increase in male and females respectively. Power output increased by ~6.5% males (P = 0.039) with no difference in females ~2.2% (P = 0.475), compared to control. Core temperature, heart rate and whole-body sweat loss was not different between condition or sex. Conclusionsl-menthol lowered perceptual measures of thermal sensation in females, but did not attenuate a greater rate of rise in thermal sensitivity when exercising in a hot environment, compared to males. Males appeared to adopt a higher risk strategy by increasing power output following l-menthol administration in contrast to a more conservative pacing strategy in females. Therefore, there appear to be sex-specific differences in l-menthol's non-thermal cooling properties and subsequent effects on thermo-behavioural adjustments in work-load when exercising in a hot environment.

The potential of the adaptive thermal comfort concept in long-term actively conditioned buildings for improved energy performance and user wellbeing

Technological progress in conditioning practice combined with prevailing thermal comfort criteria, created stable, tightly controlled indoor temperature bands. Research shows indoor temperatures to be increasing in the heating period, leading to higher building energy use than planned. Field studies provide proof that occupants not in control of their indoor climate are more dissatisfied and report problems in wellbeing. Widening temperature bands could be an effective measure leading to energy conservation, increasing satisfaction and, as shown recently, helping to mitigate health problems related to our way of life. The adaptive approach to thermal comfort postulates that people’s thermal comfort perception adapts to the indoor and outdoor climatic conditions they normally experience. However, according to standards, the adaptive model is applicable only to passively conditioned (free-running) buildings, even though the adaptive principles may well apply also to actively conditioned buildings. Our review found studies demonstrating positive health effects and energy conservation potential in permanently or seasonally conditioned buildings. On this basis, the potential of the adaptive approach and translations into concrete design or operation solutions for actively conditioned buildings are discussed in this paper. We conclude that the adaptive concept offers a potential for indoor climate control in actively conditioned buildings in the temperate and cold climates.

Spatial and Behavioral Thermal Adaptation in Net Zero Energy Buildings: An Exploratory Investigation

Climate responsive design can amplify the positive environmental effects necessary for human habitation and constructively engage and reduce the energy use of existing buildings. This paper aims to assess the role of the thermal adaptation design strategy on thermal comfort perception, occupant behavior, and building energy use in twelve high-performance Belgian households. Thermal adaptation involves thermal zoning and behavioral adaptation to achieve thermal comfort and reduce energy use in homes. Based on quantitative and qualitative fieldwork and in-depth interviews conducted in Brussels, the paper provides insights on the impact of using mechanical systems in twelve newly renovated nearly- and net-zero energy households. The article calls for embracing thermal adaptation as a crucial design principle in future energy efficiency standards and codes. Results confirm the rebound effect in nearly zero energy buildings and the limitation of the current building energy efficiency standards. The paper offers a fresh perspective to the field of building energy efficiency that will appeal to researchers and architects, as well as policymakers.

Cross-modal effects of thermal and visual conditions on outdoor thermal and visual comfort perception

People are exposed to multiple stimuli in urban environments, but most studies have investigated the unimodal effect of thermal and visual conditions on human comfort perception. It remains unclear whether the cross-modal effect found in indoor multisensory studies applies to outdoor environments. To understand the cross-modal effect of thermal and visual conditions on outdoor comfort perception, we conducted a thermal comfort survey (n = 4304) in Guangzhou and Zhuhai (September 2018). We used the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) heat stress classification and sky conditions to stratify our results. The thermal sensation vote was positively correlated with sun sensation vote. There was a significant interaction between UTCI heat stress conditions and sunlight preference vote on thermal comfort vote. The sun sensation (brightness) and sunlight preference vote had a cross-modal effect on thermal sensation and thermal comfort vote under various UTCI heat stress conditions. Under extreme heat stress, respondents’ thermal sensation did not differ significantly between different sun sensation and sunlight preference groups. Thermal sensation, preference and comfort vote had a cross-modal effect on sun sensation and sunlight preference under different sky conditions. Under partly cloudy conditions, sun sensation did not differ significantly between certain thermal sensation and preference groups. A theoretical framework is provided to explain the cross-modal effect between thermal and visual perception. Our findings suggest outdoor thermal discomfort can be alleviated by improving visual comfort and vice versa. Therefore, urban design should consider the combined effect of visual-thermal stimulants in optimizing overall pedestrian comfort and promoting urban liveability.

Summer thermal comfort in nursing homes in the Mediterranean climate

The number of people living in nursing homes is increasing due to the growth of ageing population. However, existing standards on thermal comfort do not consider how occupants of nursing homes perceive their thermal environment. This study investigated the thermal sensation of elderly people during summer season in nursing homes from the Mediterranean climate. The study was conducted to 623 nursing homes’ occupants (both residents (elderly people) and non-residents (caregivers)) using a thermal sensation questionnaire and measurement of indoor climatic parameters. Elderly’s results were compared with the results of caregivers to study the differences between these groups of population that coexist in the same building. The results showed that elderly people have a different thermal comfort perception than adults. The comfort temperature for elderly people was found to be 24.4 °C while for non-elderly was 23.5 °C. Residents were found to be more tolerant with high temperatures than non-residents. Results also showed that residents do not modify the clothing to adapt to unsatisfactory thermally conditions or to the activity. The results of this research may assist regulatory bodies to develop guidelines to design and operate nursing homes based on real thermal needs of their occupants.

Urban heat resilience at the time of global warming: evaluating the impact of the urban parks on outdoor thermal comfort

BackgroundIn densely populated urban centers, increased air temperature due to urban heat island (UHI) effect can undermine the thermal comfort and health of citizens. Research has shown that large urban parks can mitigate the effect of UHIs and improve thermal comfort, especially in the warmer months of the year when temperature changes are more noticeable. This study investigated the cooling effect intensity (CEI) of the Retiro Park in the center of Madrid at three different distances from its southern edge and the impact of this cooling effect on thermal comfort from physiological and psychological perspectives. This investigation was performed by measuring microclimate data and conducting a survey simultaneously during the summer days.ResultsThe results showed that the CEI of the park varies with distance from its edge. Because of this effect, air temperature within the 130 m and 280 m distance of the park was, respectively, 1.6 °C and 0.9 °C lower than the temperature at the 520 m distance (the nearest heat island). After examining the effect of the park in terms of physiological equivalent temperature (PET), it was found that the PET at the 130 m and 280 m distance of the park was 9.3% and 5.4% less than the PET in the heat island domain. More than 81% of the respondents (in all three areas) had a mental image of the park as the place where they would experience the highest level of outdoor thermal comfort, and this rate was higher in the areas closer to the park. The analysis of citizens’ responses about perceived thermal comfort (PTC) showed that citizens in areas with higher CEI had perceived a higher degree of thermal comfort from the psychological perspective.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the significant role of large urban parks located in the core of the populated cities in providing thermal comfort for citizens from both physiological and psychological perspectives. Additionally, the results of this study demonstrated that among the environmental (natural and artificial) factors around the park (topography, urban structure, etc.), the aspect ratio has the greatest impact on thermal comfort.

Numerical investigation of indoor air quality in a floor heated room with different air change rates

Nowadays, indoor air quality is no longer considered as providing thermal comfort. The pollutant concentration in the ambient air (CO2, O3, particulate matter, etc.) is an essential factor affecting both indoor air quality and human health negatively. Particle motion in a room is affected by air movements caused by heating systems and infiltration and needs to be examined. Therefore, this study aims to explain how infiltration rates in a room with floor heating affect both thermal conditions and particularly the particle concentration and distribution. In this study, the discrete phase model (DPM) was used for particle tracking using commercial software ANSYS FLUENT. It was assumed that drag, lift, thermophoretic and Brownian forces were affecting particle motions. It was seen that air change rates influence both thermal comfort and energy consumption as well as particle distribution significantly. It was found that increasing air change rates causes a rise in particle concentration in all sizes of particles, specifically for the lower parts of the room (below 0.75 m from the floor). It is recommended to place air purifying devices where the outdoor sourced air infiltrates the room. Additionally, an index that contains thermal comfort and particle concentration together was defined and its distribution in the room was examined. It is found that the air change rate is a critical factor in obtaining desired indoor air quality, but outdoor air conditions may worsen the indoor quality due to air pollution. As the air change rate significantly alters the airflow in the room, both thermal comfort perception and particle concentrations vary considerably.

Heatwave-induced human health risk assessment in megacities based on heat stress-social vulnerability-human exposure framework

Assessing heatwave-induced human health risk is of critical importance in order to mitigate hazards caused by extreme environmental events. Air temperature or land surface temperature in previous studies was often used to characterize the severity of heatwaves, and human perception of the thermal environment was neglected as a key component in the heatwave-induced risk assessment. In order to redress this issue, in this study we applied the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) to represent human thermal comfort perception and embedded the measure within an assessment framework of heat stress-social vulnerability-human exposure. The heatwave-induced human health risk was then evaluated in Wuhan City, China across 177 blocks covering the entire city area and local risk governance measures were also explored based on risk zoning. The results showed that spatial patterns of heatwave-induced human health risk followed a decreasing trend from the city center towards the surrounding areas, with the average risk of the main urban area being 1.6 times that beyond the metropolitan development area. Through the heatwave-induced human health risk zoning, about 73.45% of the 177 blocks in Wuhan City demonstrated a positive relationship between heat stress and human exposure, and both were opposite with social vulnerability. Multiple linear regression between UTCI and the proportion of greenspace, water body and construction land indicated that, more blue or green infrastructure should be integrated within the urban fabric to help mitigate heat stress particularly in the main urban area, while in the metropolitan development area construction land dominating heat stress should be strictly regulated. Furthermore, protecting vulnerable groups such as left-behind children and elderly people should be a priority in rural areas that were generally associated with higher levels of social vulnerability. This study proposed a new heatwave-induced human health risk framework with a local evidence in Wuhan City, and further emphasized that risk zoning could be used as a basic yet important approach to facilitating more effective urban planning guidelines for risk governance.

Recognizing Energy Dilemmas and Injustices: An Interview Study of Thermal Comfort

This article argues for the importance of recognizing local energy dilemmas and injustices that may arise in the wake of energy saving ambitions. Such energy justice dilemmas can occur anywhere, even in the wealthier parts of the world. Qualitative interviews were conducted immediately before energy efficiency renovation in a Swedish housing area, and perceptions of thermal comfort were used to illustrate the arguments of the article. The results show little compatibility between the housing company’s energy saving ambitions and the tenants’ wishes for a comfortable home. It is such discrepancies between the main actors of a renovation process, in habits, experiences and expectations, which tend to produce energy dilemmas and injustices. In the article, it is suggested that a more emic (insider’s) view should be adopted within the building and housing industry. An attempt to change from an etic (outsider’s) perspective to an emic perspective may help housing companies to find compromises with tenants. As illustrated through the example of thermal comfort, energy injustices can then more easily be avoided, and the well-being of tenants increased.

Thermal comfort evaluation in an educational building with air conditioning located in the warm tropical climate of Colombia

The objective of this work is to evaluate the perception of thermal comfort that students have in building 10 of the Universidad de la Costa located in the city of Barranquilla. For the investigation the methods for the thermal comfort evaluation are analyzed, selecting the Steady-State methodology of Fanger according to the ASHRAE 55 Standard. With the application of the surveys, the thermal sensation that the students had in the building was evaluated, which was preferably fresh and thermal acceptability where 87% responded satisfactorily to indoor climate conditions in classrooms. It was also obtained that the perception of inner thermal comfort is between 21.1 ° C and 23 ° C of temperature. With the results obtained, recommendations are issued to ensure that students feel thermal comfort and the proper regulation of air conditioning systems.

Thermal Comfort Analysis in Both Naturally Ventilated and Air-Conditioned Classrooms in a Warm and Humid Climate

Thermal discomfort in schools can compromise students and teachers well being and health; in addition, many cognitive processes are influenced by thermal environment. One solution to avoid thermal discomfort in a tropical climate can be the installation of air conditioning devices. However, little do we know about the thermal comfort in air-conditioned school buildings, specially considering the particularities of a tropical climate. This study aims to analyse the perception and sensation of thermal comfort in school buildings. Naturally ventilated and air-conditioned classrooms of public schools in João Pessoa, northeast Brazil, were investigated. A number of 352 children, aged 8 to 11 years old, were interviewed. The research’s methodology consisted in measuring environmental variables (air temperature, mean radiant temperature, relative humidity, air velocity), while questionnaires were applied to the children, containing four questions regarding their sensation and preference towards the thermal environment. In the naturally ventilated rooms, we observed the average air temperature of 28,78 °C, with 45,53% of the children feeling discomforted by heat, and 22,77% of them discomforted by cold, also 47,97% of the children reported a preference for a colder room and 24,39% reported a preference for a warmer room. In the air-conditioned rooms, we observed the average air temperature of 26,99 °C, with 39,37% of the children discomforted by heat, and 25,57% of them discomforted by cold, also 55,68% of the children reported a preference for a colder room and 14,46% reported a preference for a warmer room. The study emphasizes the occurrence of different votes of thermal sensation at the same air temperature range. The results also showed divergence between PMV and children real votes in air-conditioned rooms, encouraging the questioning about the indiscriminate use of air condition systems.

The Effect of Active Warming on Postoperative Hypothermia on Body Temperature and Thermal Comfort: A Randomized Controlled Trial

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine the effect of active warming method in temperature control and thermal comfort in hypothermia after surgery. DesignA randomized controlled trial. MethodsThe study sample consisted of 64 male and female postanesthesia care unit and intensive care unit neurosurgery postoperative inpatients. The experimental group was warmed using the active warming method, and the control group's routine care was continued via a cotton blanket. Patients were warmed until their tympanic body temperature reached 37°C. FindingsThe time needed to adequately warm patients was approximately twice as short in those who received active warming as compared with the control group. The perception of thermal comfort was significantly higher in the first hour in patients who received the active warming method (P < .05). ConclusionsThe active warming method resulted in a shorter time to warming in hypothermia after surgery and an increase in the perception of thermal comfort and body temperature.

Evaluating the perception of thermal environment in naturally ventilated schools in a warm and humid climate in Nigeria

Field study was conducted in naturally ventilated primary school buildings in a warm and humid environment in Imo State, Nigeria to determine the thermal comfort perception of young children (aged 7–12 years) and to understand the thermal conditions in the classrooms. The comfort temperature was investigated in two types of classroom buildings during the rainy and dry seasons from October 2017 to May 2018. Approximately 7050 completed valid questionnaires were collected from 330 young children repeatedly surveyed twice a day. The children answered comfort questions at the same time the indoor and outdoor thermal variables were being measured. Results indicated that the combined ‘open-space’ classrooms produced a neutral temperature of 28.8°C with comfort range, 25.2–32.3°C. The neutral temperature of the combined ‘enclosed-plan’ classrooms is 28.1°C with 25.8–30.5°C as the comfort range. The differences in the comfort perceptions may be attributed to the differences in the architectural characteristics of both categories of classroom buildings. High temperature tolerance was shown by the participating children in the study area. This article, therefore, suggests that installing air conditioning in primary schools in the warm humid environment in Nigeria may not be necessary as it could lead to unnecessary energy consumption and carbon emission. Practical application: This work is part of the main research work that pioneers research on thermal comfort in public primary school classrooms in Nigeria. The findings from this study on the acceptable indoor temperatures in naturally ventilated classrooms in the warm and humid climate in Nigeria are important information for building services engineers and architects. The young children in these classrooms can accept high indoor temperatures. The intention of this information is to discourage high energy usage in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system in primary school buildings in the study area, while maintaining the acceptable thermal comfort levels.

Evaluation of occupants’ thermal perception in a university hospital in Turkey

This study analysed the current thermal comfort conditions of Balikesir University Hospital in Turkey. Measurements and questionnaire surveys were performed to evaluate thermal comfort conditions. Environmental parameters such as air temperature, globe temperature, relative humidity and air velocity were measured. A total of 429 questionnaires were collected and analysed by using SPSS software version 22.0 to understand patients’, visitors’ and nurses’ perceptions on thermal comfort in the hospital. A total of 214 surveys were conducted in the summer period, and 215 surveys were conducted in the winter period. According to the results, thermal comfort levels for each group were ‘neutral’ in summer and ‘slightly warm’ in winter. Barely, the survey results showed that perception of thermal comfort was ‘slightly warm’ in summer and ‘neutral’ in winter. The thermal comfort level was mostly affected by differences in gender, age, participant type and orientation of the room. Furthermore, the requirements set out in standards did not meet those of respondents’ perceived thermal comfort. Finally, the relationships between predicted mean vote, actual mean vote and operative temperatures were examined. This analysis also demonstrated that the preferred temperature was 2·5°C below the predicted temperature for summer and 1°C above the predicted temperature for winter. According to these results, the neutrality point has shifted to +0·7 on the seven-point scale for both seasons.

Evaluation of the Visual Stimuli on Personal Thermal Comfort Perception in Real and Virtual Environments Using Machine Learning Approaches.

Personal Thermal Comfort models consider personal user feedback as a target value. The growing development of integrated “smart” devices following the concept of the Internet of Things and data-processing algorithms based on Machine Learning techniques allows developing promising frameworks to reach the best level of indoor thermal comfort closest to the real needs of users. The article investigates the potential of a new approach aiming at evaluating the effect of visual stimuli on personal thermal comfort perception through a comparison of 25 participants’ feedback exposed to a real scenario in a test cell and the same environment reproduced in Virtual Reality. The users’ biometric data and feedback about their thermal perception along with environmental parameters are collected in a dataset and managed with different Machine Learning techniques. The most suitable algorithm, among those selected, and the influential variables to predict the Personal Thermal Comfort Perception are identified. The Extra Trees classifier emerged as the most useful algorithm in this specific case. In real and virtual scenarios, the most important variables that allow predicting the target value are identified with an average accuracy higher than 0.99.

Vernacular Havelies of Bikaner: Indigenous Method for Thermal Comfort

Vernacular architecture based on bioclimatic concepts was developed and used through the centuries by many civilizations across the world. Bikaner is a non-river basin settlement in the hot and dry climatic zone of India and cooling of indoor spaces is the single main agenda for habitation design as the temperature is very harsh throughout the year. The vernacular architecture of the Bikaner Haveli’s has provided a comfortable shelter against the harsh climatic conditions of the region and has survived for many decades. Physical analysis of the Haveli’s provide with substantial data on their thermally comfortable design. The indigenous approach of its inhabitants for achieving comfort in these harsh climatic conditions is an exciting study area. Acclimatization plays a vital role in the perception of thermal comfort, and the younger generation does not perceive the same situation as comfortable as their parents and the natives of the land due to behavioural change. Bikaner have many Havelis dating over 250 years old, and these are master examples of vernacular architecture built by the indigenous community in response to the geographical location, climatic condition, and emerging from their cultural needs. The objective of the research is to understand indigenous cooling systems employed by the people and how they work. The process of physiological adjustment that takes place when subjected to stressful situations. The results show that the natural and passive design systems provide a comfortable indoor environment irrespective of the outdoor climatic variation. Is it more useful to re-introduces the native ways of lifestyle practices rather than adapting to global ways of living. In the paper, an attempt to bring forth the climate responsiveness, appropriateness and the adaptive lifestyle of the inhabitants of the vernacular Havelis of Bikaner.

Outdoor thermal comfort in various microentrepreneurial settings in hot humid tropical Kolkata: Human biometeorological assessment of objective and subjective parameters

Extreme heat and associated health risks increasingly become threats to urban populations, especially in developing countries of the tropics. Although human thermal exposure in cities has been studied across the globe, current narratives insufficiently discuss mixed-used spaces, informal economic activity settings, and informal settlements. This study assessed outdoor human thermal comfort in the tropical city of Kolkata, India where uncomfortable hot and humid climatic conditions prevail year-round. Thermal Comfort Perception Surveys (TCPS) and biometeorological observations were conducted during summer and winter in three microentrepreneurial neighborhoods (Kumartuli, Boipara, and Mallickghat). A one-way ANOVA was performed to investigate the variance in Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) values of 318 survey samples across neighborhoods. Through multiple linear regression and ANCOVA, significant relationships were established between various climatic and non-climatic parameters. No respondent reported a neutral thermal sensation during the summer. Annual neutral PET across neighborhoods was 23.6 °C with a neutral PET range of 19.5 °C to 27.6 °C. Annual neutral PET was 22.7 °C and 26.5 °C in Mallickghat and Boipara, respectively. Respondents in Boipara were more sensitive towards warmer sensation than in Mallickghat. Even in the winter, people reported warmer sensation votes. PET was a better predictor of the mean Thermal Sensation Vote (mTSV) compared to air temperature. In a few cases, acclimatization and expectations improved thermal comfort. Results can be useful in formulating strategies towards improving outdoor microclimate and heat health in tropical cities.

Thermal comfort models and perception of users in free-running school buildings of East-Mediterranean region

This paper explores the impact of natural ventilation on the indoor thermal environment through an extensive field survey of educational architecture in Cyprus performed both during the winter and summer periods. The study included seasonal indoor and outdoor monitoring of physical parameters, as well as a questionnaire-based survey. The study shows that the naturally ventilated spaces on the upper floor demonstrate operative temperature below the acceptable comfort zone during the winter period, while during the summer period, the findings show the vulnerability of the occupants to summertime temperatures. During the winter, a closed classroom shows the best results in terms of operative temperature; however, this conflicts with the air quality. During the summer, the case of cross-ventilation, both during the day and night, is the most efficient and operative way to passively cool educational premises. Moreover, the results of the subjective survey demonstrate that most students feel comfortable in both the winter and summer demonstrating high thermal tolerance. The results of the current study can be applied to inform strategies for the improvement of thermal comfort and reduction of energy use in educational buildings, as well as the design of new educational buildings.