A field study of thermal comfort in low-income dwellings in England before and after energy efficient refurbishment

HONG, Sung H, GILBERTSON, Jan, ORESZCZYN, Tadj, GREEN, Geoff and RIDLEY, Ian (2009). A field study of thermal comfort in low-income dwellings in England before and after energy efficient refurbishment. Building and Environment, 44 (6), 1228-1236.

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Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2008.09.003

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of England's Warm Front energy efficient refurbishment scheme on winter thermal comfort in low-income dwellings. The analysis is based on an extensive survey of some 2500 dwellings selected from five major urban areas in England over the winters of 2001/02 and 2002/03. The surveys were carried out either before or after the introduction of retrofit insulation and energy efficient heating system. Self-reported thermal comfort (measured on a seven-point scale) and indoor temperature in the living room and in the main bedroom were recorded twice daily at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. over 11 consecutive days. Results show that Warm Front was effective in increasing the mean indoor temperature from 17.1 °C to 19.0 °C leading to an increase in the proportion of households feeling thermally ‘comfortable’ or warmer from 36.4% to 78.7%. Warm Front also led to a slight increase in the whole house neutral temperature, i.e. the temperature at which most residents feel thermal neutrality, from 18.9 °C to 19.1 °C mainly from reduced clothing level associated with greater energy efficiency. Predicted Mean Vote, which is the standard thermal comfort model in ISO Standard 7730 predicted a higher neutral temperature of 20.4 °C compared to 18.9 °C found to be ideal among the average Warm Front households.

Item Type: Article
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Centre for Health and Social Care Research
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2008.09.003
Page Range: 1228-1236
Depositing User: Rebecca Jones
Date Deposited: 19 Jan 2012 16:53
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2021 20:45
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/4326

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