Free-running buildings (i.e. naturally ventilated buildings with no mechanical systems for heating or
cooling) have the potential to be much more energy efficient than air-conditioned buildings. This paper
is based on approximately 3200 instantaneous thermal comfort and 1500 long term background survey
datasets from a large scale field study conducted in free-running Indian office buildings. Responses to
air movement satisfaction and air movement preference questions, together with concurrent
measurements of indoor environmental parameters of air and globe temperature, relative humidity and
air velocity are used for this study. The paper gives an insight into the operation of ceiling fans and
windows, and the range of air velocity experienced by office workers in free-running office buildings. It
gives the relationship between measured indoor air velocity, concurrent air and globe temperature and
relative humidity. Instantaneous responses are correlated with the on-site observations on window and
ceiling fan operation, as well as indoor environmental measurements. The assessment of preferred air
velocity from ceiling fans and operable windows as an adaptive measure in this paper contributes to the
development of better designed free-running office buildings in India.