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Examining Occupant-Comfort Responses to Indoor Humidity Ratio in Conventional and Vernacular Dwellings: A Rural Indian Case Study

Author

Listed:
  • Suchi Priyadarshani

    (Centre for Sustainable Technologies, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India)

  • Roshan R. Rao

    (Centre for Sustainable Technologies, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India)

  • Monto Mani

    (Centre for Sustainable Technologies, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India)

  • Daniel Maskell

    (Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering, BRE Centre in Innovative Construction Materials (BRE CICM), University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK)

Abstract

Optimum indoor humidity is often associated with comfort and overall well-being. Occupant comfort is often evaluated with a focus on “thermal comfort” using the PMV (predicted mean vote), PDD (predicted percentage of dissatisfied), and adaptive thermal comfort models. Humidity-determined comfort parameters, like skin and respiratory comfort, are well acknowledged in the scientific community, but strangely not considered for indoor comfort computations. This study proposes a new computational approach for describing and evaluating humidity-related skin comfort in buildings using skin temperature, evaporative loss, and skin wettedness as critical parameters. The Development and validation of the computational model was demonstrated through a case study in a rural Indian context. The case study involves real-time monitoring of indoor environmental parameters and humidity-determined occupant comfort votes recorded through a novel aggregated humidity comfort vote method. The simulation results were compared with the community comfort/health survey. It was observed that, even at neutral skin temperatures, an increase in skin wettedness increases the thermal sensation vote. Clothing varies according to gender, community, and personal preferences, influencing physiological parameters which determine comfort. The acceptable humidity ratio was found to be in the range of 17.4 to 22.6 g-wv/kg-da for Indian participants. Including humidity-related comfort parameters in building simulation tools would aid in selecting building materials for improved indoor comfort.

Suggested Citation

  • Suchi Priyadarshani & Roshan R. Rao & Monto Mani & Daniel Maskell, 2023. "Examining Occupant-Comfort Responses to Indoor Humidity Ratio in Conventional and Vernacular Dwellings: A Rural Indian Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-27, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:19:p:6843-:d:1249024
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter Wallner & Ute Munoz & Peter Tappler & Anna Wanka & Michael Kundi & Janie F. Shelton & Hans-Peter Hutter, 2015. "Indoor Environmental Quality in Mechanically Ventilated, Energy-Efficient Buildings vs. Conventional Buildings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Peter Wallner & Peter Tappler & Ute Munoz & Bernhard Damberger & Anna Wanka & Michael Kundi & Hans-Peter Hutter, 2017. "Health and Wellbeing of Occupants in Highly Energy Efficient Buildings: A Field Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-11, March.
    3. Peeters, Leen & Dear, Richard de & Hensen, Jan & D'haeseleer, William, 2009. "Thermal comfort in residential buildings: Comfort values and scales for building energy simulation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(5), pages 772-780, May.
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