Effects of individual factors on thermal sensation in the cold climate of China in winter

作者：Zhou, Fanzhuo; Wang, Zhaojun^*; Yang, Yuxin; Liu, Chang; Duanmu, Lin; Zhai, Yongchao; Lian, Zhiwei; Cao, Bin; Zhang, Yufeng; Zhou, Xiang; Xie, Jingchao

来源：ENERGY AND BUILDINGS, 2023, 301: 113720.

DOI：10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113720

• Thermal comfort
• Thermal sensation
• Individual factor
• Gender
• Age
• BMI

Due to individual differences in factors, there are differences in thermal sensation among people. This study investigated the effects of three individual factors: age, gender, and BMI on thermal sensation based on the Chinese Thermal Comfort Database. The relationships between the individual factors and thermal comfort were analyzed by thermal sensation evaluation modes and neutral temperatures. The effect of the three factors were explored using Bayesian networks. Furthermore, the reasons why individual factors affect thermal sensation were discussed. The results indicated that there are significant differences in thermal sensation of personnel by age, with the highest thermal neutral temperature of 21.5 degrees C for the elderly, and the neutral temperature increased with age. There are statistically significant differences in thermal sensation between genders, and female have a 1.3 degrees C higher thermal neutral temperature than male. The thermal neutral temperature increased with increasing BMI of personnel, and the difference in thermal sensation between different BMI subjects was not statistically significant at the 5 % level. Considering the majority of the people, age has the greatest impact on thermal comfort, followed by gender and then BMI. Individual differences in thermal sensation are caused by physiological, psychological, and lifestyle factors. It is recommended to select subjects with appropriate BMI, while considering the age of the subjects, in order to reduce the effects of individual factors.

• 单位
  上海交通大学; 同济大学; 北京工业大学; 清华大学