Methodology for the Evaluation of Thermal Comfort in Non-Residential Buildings

4Methodology for the Evaluation of Thermal Comfort in Non-Residential Buildings

The literature review reveals that research on thermal comfort is based on experiments in climate chambers, spot measurements and long-term monitoring of interior thermal comfort and post occupancy evaluation surveys. Some studies of single buildings try to combine long-term monitoring of thermal comfort and post occupancy evaluation and correlate these findings to the energy use for heating, cooling, and ventilation. However, there is a need of comprehensive studies of several building types considering the parameters: (i) long-term measurements of thermal comfort, (ii) occupants’ response to the interior conditions, (iii) energy use for heating and cooling, and (iv) efficiency of the plant. Three important field studies on certain aspects of thermal comfort are:

• 
  HOPE study: Questionnaire surveys of occupants were conducted in 96 apartment and 64 office buildings in Europe, providing information on how occupants feel and perceive their internal environment. Delivered energy use was assessed from records and energy bills, preferably collected for several years and averaged to assess an average yearly consumption. However, there is not a detailed breakdown of energy used for the HVAC system. Results just cover the building’s total end and primary energy use. Perceived productivity was found to be better and absenteeism smaller in low-energy buildings. Too high temperatures in summer were reported to decrease the perceived productivity. This correlation is less obvious in winter, but the productivity tends to decrease if the temperature is perceived as not being satisfactory. The occupant’s perceived opportunity to control the environment correlates to the corresponding perceived comfort [Roulet 2001], [Leaman et al. 2007].
  
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  PROBE study: The study has undertaken post-occupancy surveys of 16 well-regarded new commercial and public buildings, typically 2 to 3 years after completion. The purpose was to provide feedback on factors for success in the design, construction, operation and use of buildings. The ventilation technologies in the buildings encompass air-condition, night ventilation, as well as natural and hybrid ventilation concepts. Energy data had been collected from monthly or quarterly invoices as well as manual and site meter readings without comprehensive monitoring, i.e., available records encompass the building’s total fossil fuel consumption and electrical energy use. However, findings of the occupant survey are not correlated to energy use or building operation [Cohen et al. 2001], [Derbyshire 2001], [Bordass et al. 2001a], [Bordass et al. 2001b] and [Leaman et al. 2001].
  
• 
  EnoB study: Seventeen office buildings in Germany were assessed by a questionnaire in terms of thermal, visual, and acoustic comfort as well as indoor air quality and office layout [Gossauer 2008]. Spot measurements of room temperature and relative humidity were conducted. Results of the post occupancy evaluation were related to the energy concept of the buildings; however, values of energy use and efficiency have not been gathered. The research shows that there are distinctive differences between the thermal comfort voting in the summer and winter period. Besides, the study confirms that the occupant’s opportunity to influence the surrounding condition and the perceived effectiveness of these interventions are crucial for perceived comfort and satisfaction.
  

4.1Measurements of the Thermal Indoor Environment

The measurement instrumentation used for evaluation of the thermal environment and the location of measurement instrumentation within the spaces should comply with the recommendations given in EN ISO 7726. Measurements shall be made where occupants are known to spend most of their time and under representative weather condition of cold and warm seasons. Considering the winter season, measurements should be carried out at or below mean outside temperatures for the three coldest months of the year. For the summer season, measurement should be conducted at or above statistic average outside temperatures for the three warmest months of the year with clear sky.

The monitoring period for all measured parameters should be long enough to be representative. This depends on the time constant of the building and the prevailing weather conditions. Room temperature measurements are often available in buildings through the building management system (wall-mounted sensors encapsulated in a ventilated enclosure). Usually, these measurements can be taken as operative temperatures with adequate accuracy as comparative measurements in the field have shown. Special care has only to be taken for large warm and cold surfaces.

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