Thermal Adaptation and Comfort Zones in Urban Semi-Outdoor Environments

Abstract

In this work, thermal adaptation characteristics and thermal comfort zones were investigated in urban semi-outdoor environments in Tokyo. Four spaces with different levels of environmental control, i.e., heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) spaces and non-HVAC spaces, were selected for the seasonal field surveys lasting over a period of 80 days. The survey consisted of the thermal environment measurement, questionnaire survey, and observation of occupancy conditions. The occupants were adapting themselves to fit within a certain range of standard effective temperature (SET *). Clothing adjustment was the principal form of behavioral adaptation. The dominant factor affecting the clothing adjustment was the daily mean outdoor temperature, and not the immediate environment, in both the non-HVAC and the HVAC spaces. The total number of occupants and the mean occupancy period of the day had a strong linear relationship with the daily mean air temperature of the occupied zone in the non-HVAC spaces. No correlation was found between the thermal environment and the occupancy conditions in the HVAC spaces. Adaptive thermal comfort zones, not comfort temperatures, were derived directly from the subjective votes. The comfort zone in SET * was found to be 23-28 • C for the predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD), 18-29 • C for HVAC spaces, and 14-32 • C for non-HVAC spaces. Occupants in semi-outdoor environments were tolerant to their thermal environment two to three times wider in range than the one predicted by the PPD. These findings are expected to be useful in the design and assessment of urban semi-outdoor environments.

The Environmental and Social Role of Semi-Open Spaces in Vernacular Architecture of the Eastern Mediterranean Area: The Case of Cyprus

“…The correlation of the thermal performance of semi-open spaces with the degree of enclosure is also in line with other studies [7], [8] indicating that semi-open spaces with high DoE achieve greater moderation of the external thermal inflows with a given orientation. Correlation studies indicate that air temperature is the only outdoor climatic variable that has an all-year effect in maximum temperatures of semi-open spaces [26]- [28]. The strong linear correlation between maximum daily temperature of semi-open spaces and maximum outdoor temperature confirms the findings of other studies [27], [28] relating outdoor temperatures to the temperatures of semiopen spaces.…”

“…Correlation studies indicate that air temperature is the only outdoor climatic variable that has an all-year effect in maximum temperatures of semi-open spaces [26]- [28]. The strong linear correlation between maximum daily temperature of semi-open spaces and maximum outdoor temperature confirms the findings of other studies [27], [28] relating outdoor temperatures to the temperatures of semiopen spaces. The impact of contemporary interventions, i.e.…”

“…In the framework of this study, the positive contribution of night ventilation in the thermal performance of semi-open spaces during the cooling period has been revealed. The positive contribution of night ventilation is also underlined by other researchers dealing with vernacular architecture in the Eastern Mediterranean region or in other areas with similar typological and climatic characteristics [28]. The study has also shown the different environmental contribution of the portico compared to the iliakos due to the different layout and degree of enclosure that make the portico more favourable especially in coastal and urban areas.…”

Thermal Comfort Condition of Passengers in Naturally Ventilated Train Stations

“…Open structure of train stations prohibits the indoor thermal environment to be controlled at a fixed temperature as in air-conditioned buildings. Semi-outdoor environment falls in between environmental engineering categories of "indoor environment" where thermal environment is controlled to satisfy thermal comfort of occupants, and "outdoor environment" where occupants need to adjust themselves to achieve thermal comfort 4) . Design of semi-outdoor thermal environment is distinct in a way that it integrates architecture, equipment and thermal adaptation of occupants to allow for a wider range of thermal environment compared to indoor environment.…”

Skin Temperature and Body Surface Section in Non-Uniform and Asymmetric Outdoor Thermal Environment

“…Hoppe [13], Nikolopoulou and Steemers [5], Spagnolo and de Dear [14], Nakano and Tanabe [15], Ahmed [16], Oliveira and Andrade [10], Lin and Matzarakis [17], Cheng et al [18], and Hwang et al [19] mentioned that in outdoor spaces, thermal adaptation results in a thermal sensation different from the indoor environment. In winter, people prefer a lower temperature than in summer, and tolerate higher temperatures in summer than in winter.…”