TY - JOUR
T1 - Differences between young adults and elderly in thermal comfort, productivity and thermal physiology in response to a moderate temperature drift
AU - Schellen, Lisje
AU - Lichtenbelt, Wouter van Marken
AU - Loomans, Marcel
AU - Toftum, Jørn
AU - de Wit, M.H.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Results from naturally ventilated buildings show that allowing the indoor
temperature to drift does not necessarily result in thermal discomfort and
may allow for a reduction in energy use. However, for stationary conditions,
several studies indicate that the thermal neutral temperature and optimum
thermal condition differ between young adults and elderly. There is a lack of
studies that describe the effect of aging on thermal comfort and productivity
during a moderate temperature drift. In this study, the effect of a moderate
temperature drift on physiological responses, thermal comfort, and productivity
of eight young adults (age 22–25 year) and eight older subjects (age 67–73 year)
was investigated. They were exposed to two different conditions: S1-a control
condition; constant temperature of 21.5C; duration: 8 h; and S2-a transient
condition; temperature range: 17–25C, duration: 8 h, temperature drift: first
4 h: +2 K/h, last 4 h: –2 K/h. The results indicate that thermal sensation of the
elderly was, in general, 0.5 scale units lower in comparison with their younger
counterparts. Furthermore, the elderly showed more distal vasoconstriction
during both conditions. Nevertheless, TS of the elderly was related to air temperature
only, while TS of the younger adults also was related to skin temperature.
During the constant temperature session, the elderly preferred a higher
temperature in comparison with the young adults.
AB - Results from naturally ventilated buildings show that allowing the indoor
temperature to drift does not necessarily result in thermal discomfort and
may allow for a reduction in energy use. However, for stationary conditions,
several studies indicate that the thermal neutral temperature and optimum
thermal condition differ between young adults and elderly. There is a lack of
studies that describe the effect of aging on thermal comfort and productivity
during a moderate temperature drift. In this study, the effect of a moderate
temperature drift on physiological responses, thermal comfort, and productivity
of eight young adults (age 22–25 year) and eight older subjects (age 67–73 year)
was investigated. They were exposed to two different conditions: S1-a control
condition; constant temperature of 21.5C; duration: 8 h; and S2-a transient
condition; temperature range: 17–25C, duration: 8 h, temperature drift: first
4 h: +2 K/h, last 4 h: –2 K/h. The results indicate that thermal sensation of the
elderly was, in general, 0.5 scale units lower in comparison with their younger
counterparts. Furthermore, the elderly showed more distal vasoconstriction
during both conditions. Nevertheless, TS of the elderly was related to air temperature
only, while TS of the younger adults also was related to skin temperature.
During the constant temperature session, the elderly preferred a higher
temperature in comparison with the young adults.
U2 - 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2010.00657.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2010.00657.x
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 20557374
SN - 0905-6947
VL - 20
SP - 273
EP - 283
JO - Indoor Air
JF - Indoor Air
IS - 4
ER -