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Advancement on Thermal Comfort in Educational Buildings: Current Issues and Way Forward

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  • Giulia Lamberti

    (School of Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy)

  • Giacomo Salvadori

    (School of Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy)

  • Francesco Leccese

    (School of Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy)

  • Fabio Fantozzi

    (School of Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy)

  • Philomena M. Bluyssen

    (Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology, 2628 Delft, The Netherlands)

Abstract

The thermal environment in educational buildings is crucial to improve students’ health and productivity, as they spend a considerable amount of time in classrooms. Due to the complexity of educational buildings, research performed has been heterogeneous and standards for thermal comfort are based on office studies with adults. Moreover, they rely on single dose-response models that do not account for interactions with other environmental factors, or students’ individual preferences and needs. A literature study was performed on thermal comfort in educational buildings comprising of 143 field studies, to identify all possible confounding parameters involved in thermal perception. Educational stage, climate zone, model adopted to investigate comfort, and operation mode were then selected as confounding parameters and discussed to delineate the priorities for future research. Results showed that children often present with different thermal sensations than adults, which should be considered in the design of energy-efficient and comfortable educational environments. Furthermore, the use of different models to analyse comfort can influence field studies’ outcomes and should be carefully investigated. It is concluded that future studies should focus on a more rational evaluation of thermal comfort, also considering the effect that local discomfort can have on the perception of an environment. Moreover, it is important to carefully assess possible relationships between HVAC systems, building envelope, and thermal comfort, including their effect on energy consumption. Since several studies showed that the perception of the environment does not concern thermal comfort only, but it involves the aspects of indoor air, acoustic, and visual quality, their effect on the health and performance of the students should be assessed. This paper provides a way forward for researchers, which should aim to have an integrated approach through considering the positive effects of indoor exposure while considering possible individual differences.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:18:p:10315-:d:636264
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Zhiqiang Shi & Qianni Liu & Zhongjun Zhang & Tianhao Yue, 2022. "Thermal Comfort in the Design Classroom for Architecture in the Cold Area of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-17, July.
    7. V. S. K. V. Harish & Arun Kumar & Tabish Alam & Paolo Blecich, 2021. "Assessment of State-Space Building Energy System Models in Terms of Stability and Controllability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-26, October.
    8. Kalliopi G. Droutsa & Simon Kontoyiannidis & Constantinos A. Balaras & Athanassios A. Argiriou & Elena G. Dascalaki & Konstantinos V. Varotsos & Christos Giannakopoulos, 2021. "Climate Change Scenarios and Their Implications on the Energy Performance of Hellenic Non-Residential Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-17, November.
    9. Betty Lala & Solli Murtyas & Aya Hagishima, 2022. "Indoor Thermal Comfort and Adaptive Thermal Behaviors of Students in Primary Schools Located in the Humid Subtropical Climate of India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-19, June.
    10. Rana Elnaklah & Yara Ayyad & Saba Alnusairat & Husam AlWaer & Abdulsalam AlShboul, 2023. "A Comparison of Students’ Thermal Comfort and Perceived Learning Performance between Two Types of University Halls: Architecture Design Studios and Ordinary Lecture Rooms during the Heating Season," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-28, January.
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