Human Factors in the Thermal Performance of Naturally Ventilated Buildings (original) (raw)
Related papers
Human factor in thermal performance of natural ventilated buildings
2000
This paper presents some results of the research project "Domestic Violence and Architectural Space", sponsored by several Mexican Govern- mental Offices and Citizen Organizations. One of the purposes of this project was to find the probable correlation between several physical characteristics of houses and violent behavior of their inhabitants. In this paper we report the re- sults of the indoor
Architectural Qualities for Violence-Free Houses: Case Colima, Mexico.
We have analyzed several characteristics of 12 natural ventilated houses localized in a hot sub –humid climate in Colima, Mexico. A correlation has been made between the qualities of this buildings and the occurrence of domestic violence in them. These houses were divided into two groups: one group of five houses whose inhabitants affirmed that they did not have violent events during the six previous months to the inquiry; the second group of seven houses whose inhabitants acknowledged some violent events during the same period. The violence was classified into four categories: psychological, intimidation, physical and sexual. The architectural characteristics of these houses were analyzed based on four categories: territoriality, topology, bioclimate and semiotic. In territoriality we considered the availability and use of spaces within a house. In topology we explored the people circulation into the house, which may affect the intimacy of its habitants. In bioclimate we measured the indoor temperature and relative humidity. In semiotic we analyzed the order and color of the internal decoration. The study shows the correlation — going from moderate to strong— between the buildings characteristics, their operative use, and their violence events. This correlation was found in situations such as the space where the inhabitants discuss important family issues (r=0.72), the amount of occupants in a bedroom (r=0.81), the connectivity between spaces according to their level of intimacy (r=0.62), the indoor temperature ranges (r=0.8), the maximum’s and minimum’s indoor temperatures (r=0.73 and r=-0.72), the color of walls, ceiling and floors (r=0.79 for brown, r=-0.65 for yellow, r=0.59 for gray, etc.) and the arrangement of furniture and decorative pieces (r=0.76). We propose that the accurate design of certain architectural elements may reduce the possibility of violence, but that it is also possible to consider the existence of a pattern in the behavior allowing the occupants to perform several actions in their houses to achieve the best possible conditions, with more or less success. This "environmental intelligence" seems to have a parallel functioning with "emotional intelligence" established by Salovey and Mayer (1990). Therefore, the human factor is a relevant element to consider in design of housing.
Noise-Violence relation in a sample of houses in Colima, Mexico
unige.ch
A sample of 11 occupied houses was studied, focusing several subjects related to their environmental performance, and the correlation with inhabitant's behavior, specifically about domestic violence. The houses are located in a warm sub-humid climate in Colima, Mexico, and they are naturally ventilated. Five of these houses are inhabited by families without violence antecedents, and the other six are inhabited by families that have suffered violent episodes in the past. In this way, two study groups were integrated. In this paper, only the outcomes about the acoustic environment of houses are presented. In both groups of houses, noise levels upper the comfort limit were registered, but in the houses associated with violence, the level was higher usually. In the houses where violent events happened, the larger part of registered noise came from the exterior. In contrary, in the houses inhabited by non-violent families, the noise registered was arisen from inside the house. While the level of noise coming from exterior augment, the kind of violence associated to the houses' inhabitant tends to increase. The possibility to control the acoustic environment seems to have a direct effect in the stress conditions, and therefore in situations of risk to domestic violence, fact that confirms similar findings related to the thermal environment.
The influence of indoor environment in office buildings on their occupants: expected–unexpected
Building and Environment, 2004
The problems associated with the in uence of the heating environment and quality of air on people in an o ce environment are discussed. The mechanical and natural ventilated buildings are analyzed in light of the hypothesis that the appearance of health conditions associated with sick building syndrome are in uenced in a statistically signiÿcant manner by the method of ventilation. Research was based on the measurement of parameters in the given indoor environment and a simultaneous survey of those employed. The survey questions dealt with elements of the indoor environment, health status and health problems of those surveyed for the 6 months prior to the research, as well as their current state of health. Deviations were veriÿed using the predicted mean vote (PMV)-predicted percent of dissatisÿed (PPD) model (PMV-PDD), as well as the measured state and the subjective evaluation of those surveyed. The subjectively stated reasons for the health problems of employees gave precedence to natural, as opposed to mechanical, ventilation, which is conÿrmed by the average absenteeism from work for health reasons (i.e. the index of health). Suitable analytical methods were used to analyze the data. The ÿndings from the study indicate a signiÿcant role for the psychological state and psychological factors of the respondents when subjectively describing the indoor environment. ?
Thermal Performance and the Inhabitants' Response
2009
In Mexico, a constructive system denominated “palapa” exists. This system is very typical of the PacificOcean coast. A group of Filipinos brought by Spaniards to the state of Colima to produce “coconut wine” (lambanog)introduced its construction technique to Mexico during the XVI century. Palapa constructions are basically housingbuildings made either of reeds or palm tree veins. The reeds are sometimes intertwined and sometimes tied up with fibers.They are mostly uncovered to allow free airflow. These houses are roofed with cayaco palm tree leaves (attalea cohune).The houses built with this system present some advantages within the high temperature and humidity conditions in placeswhere they were constructed. The isolated architectural scheme that implies this construction type, and its permeablematerials to the ventilation, allows an intense relationship with the outdoor conditions, even though it represents adifferent lifestyle from that of the city. Inhabitants of this type of construction have developed a very particular way tolive, selecting spaces with larger or smaller openings according to climatic conditions. This essay shows a preference of inhabitants toward more open spaces when the outdoor temperature rises.Keywords: warm-humid climate, traditional construction, inhabitants’ preference.
The Thermal Comfort and Air Quality in Buildings
This Article focuses on general issues on these two notions, highlighting how they dictate the performances of a building and the performance of air conditioning equipment, creating a harmony between the mood of those who live in buildings and energy demand arising in the context of creating thermal comfort. In the past 25 years the thermal comfort and air quality have become standards important in choosing construction materials and air conditioning equipment, mode of operation of the buildings, the area where it located, and especially efficient human resource where they work, aimed at increasing productivity in the workplace. In the context of research, this subject does nothing but highlight some solutions to the problems that can occur during operation of the living space can have the direct effect the health of residents implications, the functioning of air conditioning equipment and ventilation later focusing on important technological contributions of equipment and use restr...
2014
The behavior of a building occupant with regards to air conditioning has a large influence on the overall building energy consumption. This paper discusses the statistical characteristics of occupant behavior concerning air-conditioner usage, using a series of field measurements conducted in 27 dwellings in a high-rise residential building in Malaysia. It was observed that air-conditioner use was more frequent at night, especially around midnight. Air-conditioners were used for a longer duration at night, as compared to the day. There was little variation in the frequency of air-conditioner use irrespective of whether the unit was placed in the bedroom or the living room. In addition, this study was conducted to develop a numerical model for the generation of an air conditioning usage schedule for tropical climates.
Indoor Thermal Performance in Vernacular Dwellings in Alentejo, Portugal
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2021
Understanding the indoor environmental conditions of liveable architectural heritage such as vernacular dwellings is a key step towards its conservation. Yet, there is a lack of large-sample studies that assess indoor conditions using long-term quantitative and qualitative data complying with monitoring standards. This paper addresses this gap in Portuguese vernacular dwellings using long-term mixed methods, by analysing the thermal performance, indoor air quality, and illuminance of 22 case studies. Key findings highlight the role of thermal mass in damping the outdoor thermal wave and providing thermal stability, night ventilation, and lack of windows. Summer thermal performance bettered that of winter, but occupant control strategies negatively impacted thermal stability and overheating. In winter, the most prevalent heating system, electric, performed less efficiently than radiant heating, leaving occupants exposed to thermal discomfort and health risks from cold, mould, and toxins from woodburning and cooking. Important discrepancies were found between the illuminance monitored and survey data, indicating the significance of cultural practices in indoor environment acceptability and expectations.
Comparison between environmentally designed houses and standard houses regarding thermal behavior
IOP conference series, 2019
Based on the literature review and environmental studies, it is well known that the fundamental design standards focus on the building orientation, materials, form, window wall ratio, and passive tools for cooling in hot climates. This was the reason behind this paper, to verify and prove that if a building is designed according to these standards then it could achieve thermal comfort and energy efficiency. So, a comparison was held between four case studies, two of them were designed according to those standards and the other two were not. Hygrometer data loggers that measure ambient air temperature and relative humidity were placed in living rooms and on roofs in the four villas for one month in order to compare and analyse the measurements. In the coming paragraphs, each case study is explained and measurements and analysis are presented in order to reach the conclusion of this paper study. Fixed parameters were set for comparison between the four cases, those parameters were as follows: Orientation-wall thickness-building material-WWR (window wall ratio)-Number of Floors-Type of roof-Surroundings. Data was collected based on these parameters to be able to compare between the results. After comparing those parameters in the four villas, it was concluded the great influence of the surrounding buildings on each villa on its internal temperature. And so therefore a simulation has been made to measure the effect of the surrounding buildings.
Natural ventilated buildings: Use of controls for changing indoor climate
Renewable Energy, 1998
A ®eld study of the thermal comfort of workers in natural ventilated of®ce buildings in Oxford and Aberdeen, UK, was carried out which included information about use of building controls. The data were analysed to explore that what effect the outdoor temperature has on the indoor temperature and how this is affected by occupants' use of environmental controls during the peak summer (June±August). The proportion of subjects using a control was related to indoor and outdoor temperatures to demonstrate the size of the effect. The results suggest that the use of controls is also related to thermal sensation and their appropriate use is a signi®cant part of adaptive behaviour to modify the indoor thermal conditions. The results make it possible to predict the effect of temperature on the ventilation rate in naturally ventilated buildings. #