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Thermal Perception in Mild Climate: Adaptive Thermal Models for Schools

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  • Miguel Ángel Campano

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla. Reina Mercedes Avenue 2, 41012 Seville, Spain)

  • Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla. Reina Mercedes Avenue 2, 41012 Seville, Spain)

  • Jesica Fernández-Agüera

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla. Reina Mercedes Avenue 2, 41012 Seville, Spain)

  • Juan José Sendra

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla. Reina Mercedes Avenue 2, 41012 Seville, Spain)

Abstract

A comprehensive assessment of indoor environmental conditions is performed on a representative sample of classrooms in schools across southern Spain (Mediterranean climate) to evaluate the thermal comfort level, thermal perception and preference, and the relationship with HVAC systems, with a comparison of seasons and personal clothing. Almost fifty classrooms were studied and around one thousand pool-surveys distributed among their occupants, aged 12 to 17. These measurements were performed during spring, autumn, and winter, considered the most representative periods of use for schools. A new proposed protocol has been developed for the collection and subsequent analysis of data, applying thermal comfort indicators and using the most frequent predictive models, rational (RTC) and adaptive (ATC), for comparison. Cooling is not provided in any of the rooms and natural ventilation is found in most of the spaces during midseasons. Despite the existence of a general heating service in almost all classrooms in the cold period, the use of mechanical ventilation is limited. Heating did not usually provide standard set-point temperatures. However, this did not lead to widespread complaints, as occupants perceive the thermal environment as neutral—varying greatly between users—and show a preference for slightly colder environments. Comparison of these thermal comfort votes and the thermal comfort indicators used showed a better fit of thermal preference over thermal sensation and more reliable results when using regional ATC indicators than the ASHRAE adaptive model. This highlights the significance of inhabitants’ actual thermal perception. These findings provide useful insight for a more accurate design of this type of building, as well as a suitable tool for the improvement of existing spaces, improving the conditions for both comfort and wellbeing in these spaces, as well as providing a better fit of energy use for actual comfort conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Miguel Ángel Campano & Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo & Jesica Fernández-Agüera & Juan José Sendra, 2019. "Thermal Perception in Mild Climate: Adaptive Thermal Models for Schools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-23, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:14:p:3948-:d:250045
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo & Jesica Fernández-Agüera & Juan José Sendra & Susan Roaf, 2018. "Rethinking User Behaviour Comfort Patterns in the South of Spain—What Users Really Do," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Zomorodian, Zahra Sadat & Tahsildoost, Mohammad & Hafezi, Mohammadreza, 2016. "Thermal comfort in educational buildings: A review article," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 895-906.
    3. Guedes, Manuel Correia & Matias, Luís & Santos, Carlos Pina, 2009. "Thermal comfort criteria and building design: Field work in Portugal," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(11), pages 2357-2361.
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    Cited by:

    1. Carla Balocco & Lorenzo Leoncini, 2020. "Energy Cost for Effective Ventilation and Air Quality for Healthy Buildings: Plant Proposals for a Historic Building School Reopening in the Covid-19 Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Giulia Lamberti & Giacomo Salvadori & Francesco Leccese & Fabio Fantozzi & Philomena M. Bluyssen, 2021. "Advancement on Thermal Comfort in Educational Buildings: Current Issues and Way Forward," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-29, September.
    3. Alicia Alonso & Jesús Llanos & Rocío Escandón & Juan J. Sendra, 2021. "Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort of Primary Schools in Winter in a Mediterranean Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-17, March.
    4. Dariel López-López & Antonio Serrano-Jiménez & Juan Gavilanes & Ferran Ventura-Blanch & Ángela Barrios-Padura & Carmen Díaz-López, 2023. "A Study on the Parametric Design Parameters That Influence Environmental Ergonomics and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-30, April.
    5. Katarzyna Gładyszewska-Fiedoruk & Maria Jolanta Sulewska, 2020. "Thermal Comfort Evaluation Using Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, January.
    6. Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo & Jesica Fernández-Agüera & Maella Minaksi González & Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches, 2020. "Overheating in Schools: Factors Determining Children’s Perceptions of Overall Comfort Indoors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-21, July.
    7. Hardi K. Abdullah & Halil Z. Alibaba, 2020. "Window Design of Naturally Ventilated Offices in the Mediterranean Climate in Terms of CO 2 and Thermal Comfort Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-33, January.

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