Determination of Thermal Comfort Zones through Comparative Analysis between Different Characterization Methods of Thermally Dissatisfied People

Abstract

In order to maintain thermal comfort and preserve indoor environmental quality, people use heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems inside buildings. However, buildings must be prepared not only to provide adequate thermal comfort to their occupants but also to align strategies that enable better energy performance. Thus, this work aimed to establish thermal comfort zones (TCZ) through different characterization methods of thermally dissatisfied people. Responses were collected from 481 students, through the application of questionnaires in classrooms, during the Brazilian winter of 2019. Three methods for determining the actual percentage of dissatisfied (APD) were adopted, which generated three different equations, namely: APD_1; APD_2 and APD_3, based on the original Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD) equation. By using the probit model, three TCZ were calculated: 17.73–22.4 °C (APD_1); 20.71–20.93 °C (APD_2) and 17.89–24.83 °C (APD_3). In addition, a comfort zone based on the linear regression between the thermal sensation votes and the operative temperature was determined (18.77–22.69 °C). All thermal comfort zones resulting from this work have colder temperatures than that indicated by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers—ASHRAE (2017) of 23–26 °C for the winter, showing the potential for energy savings from the adoption of this type of strategy, while maintaining thermal comfort.