Effect of perceived control on human thermal comfort in heated environments

Abstract

To study the effects of perceived control on human thermal sensation and thermal comfort in heated environments, a psychological experiment was conducted. In total, 24 subjects participated in an experiment. The experiment consisted of two cases in which the indoor temperature was set at 18 °C with different cold radiation temperatures. The experiment lasted for 120 min and was divided into three phases, adaptation, without perceived control and perceived control. In the second phase, the subjects were told in advance that the indoor temperature could not be adjusted. In the third phase, subjects were told that they could adjust the indoor temperature to meet their own thermal expectations, but the indoor temperature could not actually be changed. The results showed that the effect of perceived control on thermal sensation was related to the thermal expectation. For people with strong expectations for a neutral environment, perceived control improved their thermal sensation by satisfying their thermal expectations. For people with low thermal expectations, perceived control reduced their thermal tolerance to the environment, eventually leading to thermal discomfort. These new findings provide more supports for the importance of psychological effects and a reference for the personal control of heating temperatures.

Keywords

perceived control / thermal expectation / thermal sensation / thermal comfort / heating temperature

References

[1] HumphreysM A. Field studies of thermal comfort compared and applied [J]. Building Services Engineer, 1976, 44: 5-7

[2] BragerG S, de DearR J. Thermal adaptation in the built environment: A literature review [J]. Energy and Buildings, 1998, 27(1): 83-96

[3] ZhangH, ArensE, ZhaiY. A review of the corrective power of personal comfort systems in non-neutral ambient environments [J]. Building and Environment, 2015, 91: 15-41

[4] LuoM, CaoB, ZhouX, et al.. Can personal control influence human thermal comfort? A field study in residential buildings in China in winter [J]. Energy and Buildings, 2014, 72: 411-418

[5] YunG Y. Influences of perceived control on thermal comfort and energy use in buildings [J]. Energy and Buildings, 2018, 158: 822-830

[6] ZhouX, OuyangQ, ZhuY, et al.. Experimental study of the influence of anticipated control on human thermal sensation and thermal comfort [J]. Indoor Air, 2014, 24(2): 171-177

[7] LuoM, CaoB, JiW, et al.. The underlying linkage between personal control and thermal comfort: Psychological or physical effects? [J]. Energy and Buildings, 2016, 111: 56-63

[8] BoerstraA C, KulveM T, ToftumJ, et al.. Comfort and performance impact of personal control over thermal environment in summer: Results from a laboratory study [J]. Building and Environment, 2015, 87: 315-326

[9] ISO Standard 7730. Ergonomics of the thermal environment-Analytical determination and interpretation of thermal comfort using calculation of the PMV and PPD indices and local thermal comfort criteria [S].

[10] ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55-2017. Thermal environmental conditions for human occupancy [S].

[11] LiuW, LianZ, LiuY. Heart rate variability at different thermal comfort levels [J]. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2008, 103(3): 361-366

[12] LiuW, LianZ, DengQ, et al.. Evaluation of calculation methods of mean skin temperature for use in thermal comfort study [J]. Building and Environment, 2011, 46(2): 478-488

[13] WangZ, HeY, HouJ, et al.. Human skin temperature and thermal responses in asymmetrical cold radiation environments [J]. Building and Environment, 2013, 67: 217-223

[14] FangerP, ToftumJ. Extension of the PMV model to non-air-conditioned buildings in warm climates [J]. Energy and Buildings, 2002, 34(6): 533-536

[15] NikolopoulouM, SteemersK. Thermal comfort and psychological adaptation as a guide for designing urban spaces [J]. Energy and Buildings, 2003, 35(1): 95-101