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Understanding thermal comfort in vernacular dwellings in Alentejo, Portugal: A mixed-methods adaptive comfort approach
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4921-0538
Abstract While a significant body of literature has been published on thermal comfort in dwellings, the particular challenge presented by vernacular dwellings in striking a balance between improving thermal comfort, energy savings, and heritage conservation has not been adequately investigated. The occupants’ way of life, embodying regional cultural practices and traditional adaptive behaviours, and their unique thermal expectations, impact thermal comfort perception but are largely ignored in current comfort standards. This paper addresses this gap by evaluating the thermal comfort of vernacular dwellings in Alentejo, Portugal, based on the Portuguese context-adapted thermal comfort model (PTC). The work also attempts to assess the suitability of thermal comfort adaptive and steady-state methods by undertaking a comparative analysis with the PTC model results. Key findings include the broad summer thermal acceptability in the vernacular dwellings, exceeding that of regular dwellings and thermal comfort standards, and the significant winter underheating, which highlights that priority should be given to improving cold-related risks. The PTC model was found to accurately represent summer thermal comfort conditions in naturally-conditioned vernacular dwellings in Alentejo, albeit underestimating underheated hours and requiring nighttime and boundaries adjustments to improve its accuracy. The methods detailed under EN 16798 and REH (Regulamento dos Edifícios de Habitação/Regulation of Energy Performance of Residential Buildings) are deemed unfit to evaluate thermal comfort in vernacular dwellings, especially in summer.
Highlights Wider thermal tolerance in vernacular dwellings compared to standards and conventional ones. Winter dissatisfaction levels correlated to limited personal environmental control. The tailored thermal comfort model accurately represented summer thermal comfort in the dwellings. Adjustments to the model's comfort limits added to nighttime data enhance its accuracy. EN 16798 and REH deemed unfit to evaluate thermal comfort in vernacular dwellings.
Understanding thermal comfort in vernacular dwellings in Alentejo, Portugal: A mixed-methods adaptive comfort approach
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4921-0538
Abstract While a significant body of literature has been published on thermal comfort in dwellings, the particular challenge presented by vernacular dwellings in striking a balance between improving thermal comfort, energy savings, and heritage conservation has not been adequately investigated. The occupants’ way of life, embodying regional cultural practices and traditional adaptive behaviours, and their unique thermal expectations, impact thermal comfort perception but are largely ignored in current comfort standards. This paper addresses this gap by evaluating the thermal comfort of vernacular dwellings in Alentejo, Portugal, based on the Portuguese context-adapted thermal comfort model (PTC). The work also attempts to assess the suitability of thermal comfort adaptive and steady-state methods by undertaking a comparative analysis with the PTC model results. Key findings include the broad summer thermal acceptability in the vernacular dwellings, exceeding that of regular dwellings and thermal comfort standards, and the significant winter underheating, which highlights that priority should be given to improving cold-related risks. The PTC model was found to accurately represent summer thermal comfort conditions in naturally-conditioned vernacular dwellings in Alentejo, albeit underestimating underheated hours and requiring nighttime and boundaries adjustments to improve its accuracy. The methods detailed under EN 16798 and REH (Regulamento dos Edifícios de Habitação/Regulation of Energy Performance of Residential Buildings) are deemed unfit to evaluate thermal comfort in vernacular dwellings, especially in summer.
Highlights Wider thermal tolerance in vernacular dwellings compared to standards and conventional ones. Winter dissatisfaction levels correlated to limited personal environmental control. The tailored thermal comfort model accurately represented summer thermal comfort in the dwellings. Adjustments to the model's comfort limits added to nighttime data enhance its accuracy. EN 16798 and REH deemed unfit to evaluate thermal comfort in vernacular dwellings.
Understanding thermal comfort in vernacular dwellings in Alentejo, Portugal: A mixed-methods adaptive comfort approach
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4921-0538
Abstract While a significant body of literature has been published on thermal comfort in dwellings, the particular challenge presented by vernacular dwellings in striking a balance between improving thermal comfort, energy savings, and heritage conservation has not been adequately investigated. The occupants’ way of life, embodying regional cultural practices and traditional adaptive behaviours, and their unique thermal expectations, impact thermal comfort perception but are largely ignored in current comfort standards. This paper addresses this gap by evaluating the thermal comfort of vernacular dwellings in Alentejo, Portugal, based on the Portuguese context-adapted thermal comfort model (PTC). The work also attempts to assess the suitability of thermal comfort adaptive and steady-state methods by undertaking a comparative analysis with the PTC model results. Key findings include the broad summer thermal acceptability in the vernacular dwellings, exceeding that of regular dwellings and thermal comfort standards, and the significant winter underheating, which highlights that priority should be given to improving cold-related risks. The PTC model was found to accurately represent summer thermal comfort conditions in naturally-conditioned vernacular dwellings in Alentejo, albeit underestimating underheated hours and requiring nighttime and boundaries adjustments to improve its accuracy. The methods detailed under EN 16798 and REH (Regulamento dos Edifícios de Habitação/Regulation of Energy Performance of Residential Buildings) are deemed unfit to evaluate thermal comfort in vernacular dwellings, especially in summer.
Highlights Wider thermal tolerance in vernacular dwellings compared to standards and conventional ones. Winter dissatisfaction levels correlated to limited personal environmental control. The tailored thermal comfort model accurately represented summer thermal comfort in the dwellings. Adjustments to the model's comfort limits added to nighttime data enhance its accuracy. EN 16798 and REH deemed unfit to evaluate thermal comfort in vernacular dwellings.
Understanding thermal comfort in vernacular dwellings in Alentejo, Portugal: A mixed-methods adaptive comfort approach
Costa-Carrapiço, Inês (author) / González, Javier Neila (author) / Raslan, Rokia (author) / Sánchez-Guevara, Carmen (author) / Redondas Marrero, Mª Dolores (author)
Building and Environment ; 217
2022-04-07
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Indoor thermal comfort , Vernacular dwellings , Adaptive comfort evaluation , <italic>In situ</italic> monitoring , Qualitative survey , Hot-dry climate , ANCOVA , covariance analysis , ANOVA , analysis of variance , Clo , Clothing insulation unit , df , Degree of freedom , F , F statistic , Met , Metabolic Equivalent of Task , PTC model , Portuguese context-adapted thermal comfort model , p-value , Pearson's chi-squared test , REH , Regulation of Energy Performance of Residential Buildings , R<sup>2</sup> , Determination coefficient , RH , Relative Humidity , S<inf>e</inf> , standard error of estimate , SVV , São Vicente e Ventosa , T<inf>a</inf> , Air Temperature , T<inf>erm</inf> , Outdoor Running Mean Temperature , T<inf>MRT</inf> , Mean Radiant Temperature , T<inf>o</inf> , Operative Temperature , Tukey HSD test , Tukey's Honest Significant Difference (HSD) test , TSV , Thermal sensation vote , V<inf>a</inf> , Air velocity
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