Some evidence of a time-varying thermal perception
Abstract
Recent research suggests that a time-varying indoor thermal environment can lead to energy savings and contribute to boost buildings' energy flexibility. However, thermal comfort standardization has so far considered thermal comfort criteria as constant throughout the day. In general, very little attention has been given to the ‘ time of day' variable in the context of thermal comfort research. In this paper, we show some evidence of a time-varying thermal perception by using: (1) data from about 10,000 connected Canadian thermostats made available as part of the ‘ Donate Your Data' dataset and (2) about 22,000 samples of complete (objective + ‘ right-here-right-now' subjective) thermal comfort field data from the ASHRAE I and SCATs datasets. We observe that occupants prefer colder thermal conditions at 14:00 and progressively warmer ones in the rest of the day, indistinctively in the morning and evening. Neutral temperature differences between 08:00 and 14:00 and 14:00 and 20:00 are estimated to be of the order of 2°C. We hypothesize that the human circadian rhythm is the cause of this difference. Nevertheless, the results of this study are only based on observational data. Thermal comfort experiments in controlled environmental chambers are required to confirm these findings and to better elucidate the effects of light and circadian timing and their interaction on thermal perception.
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Vellei's analysis of temperature setpoint data showed that, at equal indoor air temperature and for occupied hours, when occupants decided to change setpoint temperature, they were mostly decreasing it in the middle of the day, while increasing it in the morning and early evening.
“Results of the analysis of the temperature setpoint data showed that, at equal indoor air temperature and for occupied hours, when the occupants decided to change their setpoint temperature, they were mostly decreasing it in the middle of the day, while increasing it in the morning and early evening.”
From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [84]
Vellei observed that the neutral temperature is higher in the evening and night compared to the afternoon.
“Similarly, Vellei observed that the neutral temperature is higher in the evening and night compared to the afternoon.”
From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [84]
Vellei showed neutral temperatures have a daily trend with a minimum at around 14:00, and increase progressively in the rest of the day, indistinctively in the morning and evening.
“it was further showed that the neutral temperatures have a daily trend with a minimum at around 14:00, and increase progressively in the rest of the day, indistinctively in the morning and evening.”
From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [84]
Vellei estimated the neutral temperature differences between 08:00 and 14:00 and between 14:00 and 20:00 is of the order of 2°C.
“Vellei estimated that the neutral temperature differences between 08:00 and 14:00 and 14:00 and 20:00 is of the order of 2°C.”
From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [84]
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Human thermal perception and time of day: A review
Vellei, M., Chinazzo, G., Zitting, K.-M., & Hubbard, J. (2021) · Temperature · doi:10.1080/23328940.2021.1976004 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Vellei, M., O’Brien, W., Martinez, S., & Le Dréau, J.
- Affiliations
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Carleton University (CA)
- LaSIE (UMR CNRS 7356) – La Rochelle University, La Rochelle, France
- Corresponding author
- Vellei, Marika
- Venue
- Indoor and Built Environment
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2021-08-11
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 788-806
- ISSN
- 1420-326X (ISSN-L)
- 1423-0070
- OpenAlex
- W3191828217
- Cited by
- 11
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 0.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Indoor and Built Environment (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-17-CE22-0005-01)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Building Energy and Comfort Optimization
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Urban Heat Island Mitigation
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Building energy efficiency and sustainability
- Keywords
- thermal sensation, circadian rhythm, indoor thermal environment, time of day, neutral temperature, occupant thermal preferences, building energy flexibility
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