As the climate changes,
global use of air-conditioning will proliferate as solutions are sought for
maintaining thermal comfort in buildings. This rises alongside increased
purchasing power as economies grow, harbouring the potential to unleash an
unprecedented growth in energy demand. Encouraging higher levels of air
movement at warmer temperatures to maintain thermal comfort may offset the risk
of increased air-conditioning use. Whilst laboratory studies have quantified
air motion effects on the human body, it remains unclear as to how best to
incorporate higher air motion in the design and operation of residential /
mixed mode buildings to offset air-conditioning use. The project reported is
developing a better understanding of thermal comfort in residential /mixed mode
buildings and is identifying the potential for higher air movement for
providing energy-efficient comfort. Co-ordinated field surveys in British and
Indian residences of thermal conditions, sensations and air motion practices
have been conducted. The data generated will contribute to a worldwide
database, and will inform validation of a coupled thermal comfort / airflow
model for designing comfortable, energy-efficient indoor environments that
exploit higher air motion. This paper describes the overall project, and
presents preliminary findings from the British residential field survey.