Differences between young adults and elderly in thermal comfort, productivity, and thermal physiology in response to a moderate temperature drift and a steady-state condition
Open accessAbstract
UNLABELLED: Results from naturally ventilated buildings show that allowing the indoor temperature to drift does not necessarily result in thermal discomfort and may allow for a reduction in energy use. However, for stationary conditions, several studies indicate that the thermal neutral temperature and optimum thermal condition differ between young adults and elderly. There is a lack of studies that describe the effect of aging on thermal comfort and productivity during a moderate temperature drift. In this study, the effect of a moderate temperature drift on physiological responses, thermal comfort, and productivity of eight young adults (age 22-25 year) and eight older subjects (age 67-73 year) was investigated. They were exposed to two different conditions: S1-a control condition; constant temperature of 21.5 degrees C; duration: 8 h; and S2-a transient condition; temperature range: 17-25 degrees C, duration: 8 h, temperature drift: first 4 h: +2 K/h, last 4 h: -2 K/h. The results indicate that thermal sensation of the elderly was, in general, 0.5 scale units lower in comparison with their younger counterparts. Furthermore, the elderly showed more distal vasoconstriction during both conditions. Nevertheless, TS of the elderly was related to air temperature only, while TS of the younger adults also was related to skin temperature. During the constant temperature session, the elderly preferred a higher temperature in comparison with the young adults. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Because the stock of fossil fuels is limited, energy savings play an important role. Thermal comfort is one of the most important performance indicators to successfully apply measures to reduce the energy need in buildings. Allowing drifts in indoor temperature is one of the options to reduce the energy demand. This study contributes to the knowledge concerning the effects of a moderate temperature drift and the age of the inhabitants on their thermal comfort.
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A temperature drift of 2 K/h resulted in slightly decreased thermal comfort compared to constant temperatures, but drifting conditions were still perceived as acceptable.
“They showed that a temperature drift of 2 K/h resulted in slightly decreased thermal comfort compared to constant temperatures, but drifting conditions were still perceived as acceptable.”
From Drivers of diversity in human thermal perception – A review for holistic comfort models (2018) · cites this paper as [114]
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- Authors
- Schellen, L., Van Marken Lichtenbelt, W. D., Loomans, M. G. L. C., Toftum, J., & De Wit, M. H.
- Affiliations
- Eindhoven University of Technology (NL)
- Technical University of Denmark (DK)
- Corresponding author
- Schellen, L.
- Venue
- Indoor Air
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2010-04-16
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 273-283
- ISSN
- 0905-6947 (ISSN-L)
- 1600-0668
- OpenAlex
- W2101720743
- Cited by
- 377
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 28 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 45 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 39 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 10.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Indoor Air (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- TU/e Research Portal (publishedVersion)
- TU/e Research Portal (submittedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Technische Universiteit Eindhoven
- Agentschap NL
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Building Energy and Comfort Optimization
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Urban Heat Island Mitigation
- Keywords
- thermal comfort, aging, older adults, young adults, temperature drift, thermal sensation, thermal neutral temperature, skin temperature, thermal preference, naturally ventilated buildings
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aging, Body Temperature, Body Temperature Regulation, Female, Humans, Male, Skin Temperature, Temperature, Thermosensing
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