Comfort At The Extremes, CATE’21Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, 24th-26th October 2021

COMFORT IS KEY NOW TO GOOD DESIGN

1. WHY do we need Radical new Design Thinking?

Climate Change: Our World is Heating

Carbon Emission Reductions are Crucial

Extreme Weather Events become the Norm

Conventional Energy Systems are failing

For more details and References see:

COMFORT JUSTICE: Roaf Lecture at COP26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbsdb70e4SM

IF YOU THINK IT IS BAD NOW – WAIT TILL 2030: DESIGN FOR THE FUTURETHINK AHEAD…

2003EU: 72,000 die in one Heatwave

Across Europe

2050THAT WILL BEA COOL YEAR

DESIGN BUILDINGS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE EVENT WHEN THE POWER FAILS OR THERE IS A PANDEMIC….

20THC = From Vernacular to International StylesUnderstand where we have come from and where we are going..

Meis - Glass and Metal Corb – suspended ConcreteTraditional – climate savvy

Increasing Energy Consumption Decade on Decade

Resilient Comfort: Resilient Societies

Susan Roaf - Emeritus Professor of Architectural Engineering, Heriot Watt University, s.roaf@hw.ac.ukCheck out my talk at COP25 on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbsdb70e4SM

COMFORT THERE ARE TWO WAYS OF PREDICTING COMFORT

Involving 4 basic physical parameters and 2 assumed levels of Clothing and Activity

1. The HVAC Industry Measures Comfort: Heat Balance Method - PMV

Humphreys. M., F. Nicol and S. Roaf (2015). Adaptive Thermal Comfort: Foundations and Analysis, London: Earthscan/Routledge. N: 978-0415691611.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/role-cfd-evaluating-occupant-thermal-comfort-sandip-jadhav/

Largely based on research done in Laboratories in the USA and Northern Europe in the 1950s – 1970s

Type of Clothing Activity Category Operative Temperature Mean Air Velocity

Building/ Cooling Heating Cooling Heating Cooling Heating

Space Season Season season Season season season

(summer) (winter) (summer) (winter) (summer) (winter)

Clo Clo met °C °C ms-1

ms-1

Office 0.5 1.0 1.2 A 24.5 ± 0.5 22.0 ± 1.0 0.18 0.15

B 24.5 ± 1.5 22.0 ± 2.0 0.22 0.18

C 24.5 ± 2.5 22.0 ± 3.0 0.25 0.21

Cafeteria/ 0.5 1.0 1.4 A 23.5 ± 1.0 20.0 ± 1.0 0.16 0.13

Restaurant B 23.5 ± 2.0 20.0 ± 2.5 0.20 0.16

C 23.5 ± 2.5 20.0 ± 3.5 0.24 0.19

Department 0.5 1.0 1.6 A 23.0 ± 1.0 19.0 ± 1.5 0.16 0.13

Store B 23.0 ± 2.0 19.0 ± 3.0 0.20 0.15

C 23.0 ± 3.0 19.0 ± 4.0 0.23 0.18

PMV standards have narrow comfort limits suitable for air-conditionedBuildings like Offices, but not for Homes

Olesen B. and K. Parsons (2002). Introduction to Thermal Comfort Standards and to the proposed new EN ISO 7730, Energy and Buildings, 34, pp.537-448

210C - 250C in ‘1st Class Offices’.

Narrower Comfort Zones Need More HVAC equipment

‘Efficient’ A/C BuildingsNeed More Expensive HVAC

Eg. EN ISO 7730

190C - 270C in‘3rd Class Naturally Ventilated ones’

Parkinson, T., de Dear, R. and Brager, G. 2020. Nudging the adaptive thermal comfort model. Energy and Buildings, 206, p.10959.

WHY DOES IT MATTER? Because Every One Degree difference between indoor Set-points and outdoor temperatures uses 8% – 10% more energy to achieve

We will always need HVACBut it is sensible to use it only when

Buildings NEED to be heated or cooled

COMFORT IS DYNAMIC - a Self-Regulating System

370C

BehavioursPhysiology

Reference: Nicol, J. F., & Humphreys, M. A. (1973). Thermal comfort as part of a self-regulating system. Building Research and Practice, 6(3), 174–179.

doi:10.1080/09613217308550237

Surveys: People comfortable over wide range of temperatures

References: Humphreys, M.A. (1976). Field studies of thermal comfort compared and applied. J. Inst. Heat. & Vent. Eng. 44, pp 5-27.

Survey results: A direct correlation between mean outdoor and comfort temperatures

15

20

25

30

35

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Mean temperature experienced

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Pakistan

Humphreys

Reference: Nicol & Humphreys Energy and Buildings 34 (6)

TNZ

Put Clothes on

Cool Breeze

Chilling Draft

28

The TNZ is the physiological sweet zone, a band of temperatures in the which the body need take little or no action, so expend no energy, to make itself warmer or cooler while still maintaining core temperatures. (Naked body, varies with Individuals)

Reference: Boris Kingma, Marcel Schweiker, Andreas Wagner & Wouter van Marken Lichtenbelt, “Exploring internal body heat balance to understand thermal sensation,” Building Research & Information, (April, 2017). Accessed 18th July, 2017, DOI: 10.1080/09613218.2017.1299996.

PHYSIOLOGICAL LIMITS - Thermoneutral Zone (TNZ)

Adaptive Thermal Comfort: Studying Real People in Real Buildings

Measure Physical and Personal parameters like Clothing and Activities with Interviews to find out How Comfortable they Feel

Data Collected Feeds into Adaptive Thermal Comfort Standards eg. ASHRAE 55 (2004)

170C - 320C Acceptable Temperature range2004

Use Adaptive Comfort Standards for Homes

For the Netherlands Adaptive Comfort Limits are c. 18C-29C:

A.C. Boerstra, J. van Hoof & A.M. van Weele (2015) A new hybrid thermal comfort guideline for the Netherlands: background and development, Architectural Science Review, 58:1, 24-

34, DOI: 10.1080/00038628.2014.971702

How to start your design? Not with a computer

GET A PIECE OF PAPER AND A PENCIL AND START COMPOSING THE THREE STAGES OF YOUR DESIGN

THINK

GET A PLAN

STAGE 1) MOST IMPORTANT DECISION: WHAT IS THE BASIC THERMAL HEARTBEAT OF THE HOUSE?

High Mass – fewer Openings

Very stable indoor

temperatures Passive House

Glass BoxEcohouse

Low Mass – Large Glazed

openings facing south - Overheats

Impossible to Occupy

without Mechanical systems

STAGE 2) HOW MANY ADAPTIVE OPPORTUNTIES DOES IT HAVE?ALL THE THINGS YOU CAN CHANGE ABOUT THE HOUSE…

Side by side in Nice, France: Overlooking the Sea

ADAPTIVE OPPORTUNTIES

Elements you can Change for Climate Control

U-values / Occupancy / Internal Loads / Opening Windows /

Infiltration / Furnishings / Local-Central Heating /Cooling systems /

Shades / Curtains / Blinds / Conservatories / Porches /

Landscape..

Machines are only Design Stage 2 replaceable elements

PETS: PERSONAL ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES? MAYBE ENOUGH?

Worker Choices

1 m/s = 3K

increase – 3 W

Japan: KOTATSU + HOT BATHS – Low Energy Solutions

Heating / cooling people – not buildings

Not Only Providing Adaptive Opportunities - but putting thought into how to make them Easily Usable

I N T E R F A C E P R O G R E S S I O N O F

C O M P L E X I T Y

Mechanical Heating

Mechanical Cooling

Mechanical Heating

High Energy Building

Mechanical Cooling

Natural Ventilation – opening windows – with shutters / shade / curtains to Pre-heat / cool air

Passive Solar Heating with good summer shading and orientation so no over-heating - thermal mass

Low Energy Building

The Same Building can be a Low or High Energy BuildingDepending on How Many Passive Adaptive Opportunities it has.

Too Many HVAC Engineers ?

STAGE 3) ARCHITECTURE: ALL ABOUT THE MIND SENSATION: Involving Feelings, Senses, Perceptions, Impressions

WOW

Immediate Impact

WELL BEING

Deeper sensation

Too Many Architects?

View – Art - Sounds - Scents – style - Colour – Light - Formal Composition of Shapes

Decoration - Furnishings - people / events associated with the building

S. Roaf (2018). Thermal Landscaping of Buildings, in Activism in Architecture: the bright dreams of passive energy design, Margot McDonald and Carolina Dayer (Eds.), Taylor and Francis Ltd., London, pp.145-174.

MOST IMPORTANT IS THE THERMAL LANDSCAPING OF THE HOUSE

Ranginui – Father Sky

Papatūānuku – Mother Earth

Ch 4. The impacts of future UK heatwave on Office and residential buildings - Asif Din and Hala El Khorazatyin The Routledge Handbook on Resilient Comfort (2022). Rijal, Nicol and Roaf (Eds), Routledge, London.

Office Home

Heat Wave periods in a Home and Office Modelled in 3 UK locations using 2080 data

London + Birmingham buildings Overheated.

In Aberdeen they did Not.

Homes were worse affected

Office Residential

Birmingham London Birmingham London

MORE OVERHEATING HRS

LESS OVERHEATING HRS

ARE SUCH GRAPHICS ARE TOO COMPLEX TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE IMPRESSION ON JUDGES?

OVERHEATING IS KEY: HOW BEST TO SHOW IT IN A COMPETITION DRAWING?

CH 6. Do old people only feel the cold? Summertime overheating in UK Care Homes. Rajat Gupta, in The Routledge Handbook on Resilient Comfort (2022). Rijal, Nicol and Roaf (Eds), Routledge, London.

Overheating in Care Homes is prolonged and prevalent

IMPORTANTLY: Residents were found to be insensitive to high temperatures.

Care Home Design does NOT take in Account Overheating

Regular temperature monitoring is needed with feedback to all staff and occupants

Cultural Change is needed within the Care Sector

AGAIN FOR A POSTER NOT MAKING CLEAR ARCHITECTURAL STATEMENTS?

ESPECIALLY IN THE WORST CLIMATES – THERMAL LANDSCAPING IS KEYDesigning Comfortable and Low Carbon Homes in Dammam, Saudi

Arabia: The Roles of Buildings and Behaviours

Abdulrahman Alshaikh -PhD - Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, United, 2016

10m 5m 1m

A 24 hours time-series of the average indoor temperature

performance in the bedroom and living room of dwelling

15 during the hot season

DAMPENING PEAKS WITH THERMAL LANDSCAPING WITH RANSOM ZONES

10m 5m 1m

A 24 hours time-series of the average indoor temperature

performance in the bedroom and living room of dwelling

13 during the hot season

OPEN PLAN ROOMS = HEAT ENGINES IN THE HEART OF THE HOUSE

Help Architects avoid thermal health traps likeDesigns with no Ransom Spaces or Climate Refuges

Merghani, A. (2004). Environmental Diversity in Architecture. K. Steemers and M. A. Steane: 195-213.

Just Start by thinking simply about the climate in different spaces over the seasons

Adaptive features save 80% annual running costs in The Dutch Adaptive House

Reference: E.E. Alders, Adaptive heating, ventilation and solar shading for dwellings, Architectural Science Review, Volume 60, 2017, Issue 3: Special Issue: Running Buildings on Natural Energy: Design thinking for a Different Future, Pages 150-166,

Published online: 09 Apr 2017, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00038628.2017.1300132

Adaptive thermal comfort opportunities for dwellings:Providing thermal comfort only when and where needed in

dwellings in the NetherlandsPhD Noortje Alders, University of Delft, September 2016

Building designed to dump heat effectivelyVentilation pathways are a Step one feature

Reinforces the need for windows in the roof!

SIMPLE DIAGRAMS COLOURED TO SHOW THERMAL DESIGN STRATEGIES ARE EFFECTIVE

Access Nortje’s whole PhD on:

https://9lib.org/document/zwv019gq-adaptive-thermal-comfort-opportunities-for-dwellings.html

Protect the Vulnerable

WARM GRAN PLAN

Building Resilience

Matters

COOL GRAN PLAN

Roaf: CONSIDER INCLUDING SAFE CLIMATE REFUGES – ROOMS OR SPACES

ReNew, Vol 34, 2015, renew.org.au

FINALLY: MAKE SURE THE IMAGES ON YOUR DISPLAY SHEETS ARE WELL PROPORTIONED, CENTRAL IMAGES ON A SHEET WORK WELL AS DO BRIGHTLY COLOURED IMAGES

GOOD LUCK AND DO CHECK YOU NORTJE’S PHD FOR IDEAS TOO