Factors Significant to Thermal Comfort Within Residential Neighborhoods of Ibadan Metropolis and Preferences in Adult Residents’ Use of Spaces

Abstract

The study examined the significance of five sets of variables classified under personal characteristics, adaptive actions, climatic factors, building spatial characteristics, and neighborhood location characteristics in the determination of indoor thermal comfort and the impact of spatial comfort on residents’ preferences in space use. A thermal comfort survey was conducted among residents of 528 buildings in 12 selected residential neighborhoods of Ibadan metropolis in Nigeria. The impact of the urban microclimate on the building spaces was found significant. Indoor comfort assessment varied according to the different building design typology. The location and building characteristics were found to influence the indoor comfort of respondents. It was found that there were differences in air temperature measured within the spaces in the buildings. The thermal assessment of respondents for different spaces in their respective buildings also varied. There was very strong correlation between the most comfortable spaces, the most used spaces, and the first choice spaces voted by respondents at different periods of the day. Residents utilized adaptive actions and exhibited thermal consideration in the use of spaces. Adaptive movement from space to space due to variation in spatial comfort was confirmed in the study.