Adaptive thermal comfort considering temperature and relative humidity

Abstract

The current demand for housing in developing countries has led to the construction of low-cost housing designed in any climate without regional adaptation, which usually causes low comfort levels and high energy consumptions. Indoor thermal variables have been measured and field surveys have been applied to occupants of low-cost housing in hot dry climate. Here, we analyze the data to evaluate the habitability of the houses. Neutral temperature and comfort range for the population adapted to the local climate are obtained. A model to predict the thermal sensations of people acclimated to similar conditions, depending on the temperature and relative humidity, is proposed. The model has good statistical agreement with the surveys. The knowledge of thermal comfort conditions for specific climates and population allows the design of more comfortable buildings. To express these conditions as a function of temperature and relative humidity helps architects to directly relate the comfort conditions with passive thermal strategies for buildings.