Exploring thermal comfort for the older adults: A comparative study in Dalian City's diverse living environments

Abstract

China's aging population is a pressing issue, with the need for comfortable living environments for older adults being paramount to their health and well-being. A study was conducted in Dalian, China, involving physical environment measurements and surveys in nursing homes and residential buildings. The investigation focused on changing indoor thermal environments and older adults' subjective sensations. The study explored physical environment satisfaction and actual thermal comfort ranges in different aging modes and space characteristics. The results show that older people spend most time in bedrooms, and dissatisfaction with the thermal environment in winter and summer is high, reaching 42% and 74%, respectively. Residential buildings generally have higher indoor temperatures than nursing homes, with a mean PMV difference of 0.9 in winter. Furthermore, thermal comfort models show that the comfort zones for nursing homes are more comprehensive in winter but smaller in summer. This study provides valuable information for future research on thermal comfort of older adults in different aging modes, facilitating the creation of healthier indoor thermal environments.

Keywords

Different aging modes / Thermal comfort / Older adults / Adaptive thermal comfort

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