This project looks at how buildings can be retrofitted to maximise the range of temperatures occupants find comfortable.
Comfort & control
Energy and power profiles of buildings are driven, in part, by the range of temperatures occupants find acceptable or that are deemed to be acceptable. This project is increasing our understanding of the drivers of variability in temperatures. It looks at underheating to identify which temperatures are too low from a comfort and health perspective and tests factors that widen the range of acceptable temperatures, particularly through varied control options in demand-side management interventions. Varying temperatures over a wide range, within comfortable and healthy limits, can bring significant energy and power reduction.
What we are asking
- How we can retrofit, design, and run buildings to widen the range of healthy temperatures that occupants find thermally comfortable in order to reduce energy and power demand?
- What determines variability in achieving healthy temperatures?
- How can underheating be defined, under comfort and health aspects?
- How can the range of acceptable temperatures be varied through control(s)?
Banner photo credit: Sonnie Hiles on Unsplash