A questionnaire survey on sleeping thermal environment and bedroom air conditioning in high-rise residences in Hong Kong

This paper reports on the results of a questionnaire survey on sleeping thermal environment and bedroom air conditioning in high-rise residential buildings in Hong Kong. The survey aimed at investigating the current situation of sleeping thermal environment and bedroom air conditioning, in order to gather relevant background information to develop strategies for bedroom air conditioning in the subtropics. It focused on the use patterns and types of bedroom air conditioning systems used, human factors such as the use of bedding and sleepwear during sleep, preference for indoor air temperature settings in bedrooms, ventilation control at nighttime with room air conditioner (RAC) turned on, etc. The results of the survey showed that most of the respondents would prefer a relatively low indoor air temperature at below 24 °C. Most of the respondents might however not be satisfied with the indoor air quality (IAQ) in bedrooms in Hong Kong. On the other hand, 68% of the respondents did not use any ventilation control intentionally during their sleep with their RACs turned on. A lack of knowledge of the ventilation control devices provided on window type room air conditioners (WRACs) indicated an urgent need for user education.     

Indoor air quality and thermal comfort studies of an under-floor air-conditioning system in the tropics

This paper reports thermal comfort and indoor air quality (IAQ) studies of an under-floor air-conditioning (UFAC) system in hot and humid climate. Thermal comfort parameters were measured at predetermined grid points within an imaginary plane to predict the airflow pattern of the supply air jet as well as to determine the occurrence of thermal stratification in the office space. Fanger’s [Thermal Comfort Analysis and Applications in Environmental Engineering, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1970] thermal comfort index was also computed to detect the occupants’ thermal sensation. Besides, the concentration levels of dust and carbon dioxide were recorded with the intention to examine the quality of the indoor air. Statistical methods were applied to derive the relationship between air velocity and the other parameters as mentioned earlier. The main findings from the study revealed reasonable level of acceptability of IAQ associated with the UFAC system. However, occupants are likely to experience localised thermal discomfort near the supply diffusers due to the existence of large temperature gradients. In addition, a stagnant zone is discovered at sedentary level, which is caused by the parabolic airflow nature of the primary air jet.     

某精装修住宅楼室内热舒适度实测分析

热舒适性是居住者对室内热环境满意程度的一项重要指标,除了与空气温度、湿度相关外,还与气流速度、室内空气品质密切相关.详细阐述了室内热舒适性的测试方法及评价方法,并结合工程案例的实测情况,分析客厅、主卧室、次卧室等主要功能房间的室内热舒适度.     

A study of a control strategy utilizing outdoor air to reduce the wintertime carbon dioxide levels in a typical Taiwanese bedroom

A CO₂ concentration of more than 1000 ppm has been monitored in Taiwanese bedrooms during sleeping hours in the wintertime. The high indoor CO₂ levels were caused by poor ventilation due to insufficient ventilation rates. This study sought to reduce the wintertime CO₂ concentration level in a typical Taiwanese bedroom with less outdoor air to maintain thermal comfort. CO₂ was used as an indicator to assess whether an adequate ventilation rate has been obtained to dilute or remove harmful pollutants. With the help of the thermal buoyancy effect, the CO₂ generated in the bedroom was effectively removed by means of less outdoor air. Through computational fluid dynamics simulations, the appropriate window and transom locations with the corresponding outdoor air supply volume, as well as the lowest possible outdoor air temperature were identified.     

冬季室内热环境与被褥微气候的匹配

冬季睡眠状态下,室内热环境与被褥微气候分别对人体头部和被覆躯体的热感觉造成直接影响。为了分析两个热环境的匹配关系以满足睡眠人体的热舒适水平,实验在不同的室内温度下,调节被褥微气候温度,测试了受试者的皮肤温度,并记录了热感觉和热可接受水平。研究结果表明:睡眠状态下,相比于室内热环境,人体热感觉对被褥微气候更敏感;此外,通过分析室内热环境和被褥微气候分别与整体热感觉和整体不满意率的关系,得到了睡眠热环境舒适区间。     

Persistent allergic rhinitis and indoor air quality perception--an experimental approach

In order to compare patterns of indoor air perception, including perceptions of temperature, air movement, indoor air quality (IAQ), mental concentration, and comfort, 33 subjects either with persistent allergic rhinitis or controls were exposed to different temperatures and constant relative humidity in an experimental office environment. Results were obtained by means of a self-administered visual analogue scale, analyzed using mean score comparisons and principal component analysis. At 14 degrees C, the rhinitis group reported higher scores for sensations of air dryness than controls. At 18 degrees C, in the rhinitis group, there was a correlation between dry, stagnant air, and difficult mental concentration. This group also correlated heat, dry air, and poor IAQ, in contrast to the control group, which correlated comfort, easy mental concentration, and freshness. At 22 degrees C, the rhinitis group correlated heat, dryness, stagnant air, and overall discomfort. This group also correlated non-dry air, freshness, and comfort, whereas the control group correlated heat, humidity, good indoor air, freshness, and comfort. This study suggests that the rhinitis group perceives indoor temperatures of 14 degrees C as dryer than controls do, and that at 18 and 22 degrees C this group positively correlates different adverse perceptions of IAQ. By means of a self-administered questionnaire in an experimental condition, the present study compares subjective patterns of indoor air perception from individuals with respiratory allergy (allergic rhinitis) to control individuals. It reports different patterns of perception of indoor air quality (IAQ) between the two groups, suggesting that allergic individuals could have different IAQ perception.     

A study on the thermal comfort in sleeping environments in the subtropics—Developing a thermal comfort model for sleeping environments

In the subtropics, air conditioning serves to maintain an appropriate indoor thermal environment not only in workplaces during daytime, but also at night for sleeping in bedrooms in residences or guestrooms in hotels. However, current practices in air conditioning, as well as the thermal comfort theories on which these practices are based, are primarily concerned with situations in which people are awake in workplaces at daytime. Therefore, these may not be directly applicable to air conditioning for sleeping environments. This paper, reports on a theoretical study on a thermal comfort model in sleeping environments. A comfort equation applicable to sleeping thermal environments was derived by introducing appropriate modifications to Fanger's comfort model. Comfort charts which were established by solving the comfort equation, and can be used for determining thermally neutral environmental conditions under a given bedding system have been developed. A related paper reports on an experimental study on measuring the total thermal insulation values of a wide range of bedding systems commonly used in the subtropics, which are an essential input to the comfort equation developed and reported in this paper.     

A study on the characteristics of nighttime bedroom cooling load in tropics and subtropics

In both tropical and subtropical regions, residential air conditioning serves to maintain appropriate indoor thermal environments not only at daytime, but also at nighttime in bedrooms for sleeping. However, the current practices for air conditioning are primarily concerned with the situations in which people are awake at daytime. Therefore, these may not be directly applicable to nighttime bedroom air conditioning. This paper reports on a simulation study on the characteristics of nighttime bedroom cooling load in tropics and subtropics, using a building energy simulation program. The weather conditions of and the typical arrangements of high-rise residential blocks in Hong Kong are used in the simulation study. The simulation results on the cooling load characteristics in bedrooms under three different operating modes of room air conditioners (RACs) at the summer design day, the breakdown of the total cooling load in a bedroom at nighttime operating mode (NOM), indoor air temperature and mean radiant temperature variation at NOM, and the effects of indoor design air temperature on the cooling load characteristics at NOM are presented. The differences in the cooling load characteristics among three different operating modes and the issues related to the sizing of RACs used in bedrooms are discussed.     

Associations of bedroom air temperature and CO2 concentration with subjective perceptions and sleep quality during transition seasons

This field study aimed to investigate naturally ventilated bedroom environment and its effects on subjective perception and sleep quality. Totally, 104 healthy subjects living in urban areas of Beijing participated in the study for one night during transition seasons. Bedroom environment parameters, including temperature, relative humidity, and CO₂ concentration, were recorded before and during sleep. Objective sleep quality was measured by Fitbit Alta 2, a wrist-type actigraphy sensor. Subjective assessments were collected by paper-based questionnaires on sleep quality and environmental perceptions. The results showed that neutral temperature for waking state (before sleep) was estimated to be 23.8°C while for sleep state it was 26.5°C. Furthermore, pre-sleep thermal sensation vote was found to be positively correlated with deep sleep percentage. Indoor air quality was correlated with sleep quality as indicated by statistically significant correlations between odor intensity assessment, air quality acceptability, average nightly CO₂ concentration, and measures of sleep quality. For naturally ventilated bedrooms during transition seasons with a mild outdoor climate, present findings suggest that a bedroom with slightly warm pre-sleep environment than neutral, and with high ventilation as indicated by low indoor CO₂ concentration, could be beneficial for sleep quality of residents.     

Indoor air quality and the associated health risk in primary school buildings in Central Europe – The InAirQ study

The indoor air quality (IAQ) was investigated in sixty-four primary school buildings in five Central European countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Poland, and Slovenia). The concentration of volatile organic compounds, aldehydes, PM_2.5 mass, carbon dioxide, radon, as well as physical parameters were investigated during the heating period of 2017/2018. Significant differences were identified for the majority of the investigated IAQ parameters across the countries. The median indoor/outdoor ratios varied considerably. A comprehensive evaluation of IAQ in terms of potential health effects and comfort perception was performed. Hazard quotient values were below the threshold value of 1 with one exception. In contrast, 31% of the school buildings were characterized by hazard index values higher than 1. The maximum cumulative ratio approach highlighted that the concern for non-carcinogenic health effects was either low or the health risk was driven by more substances. The median excess lifetime cancer risk values exceeded the acceptable value of 1 × 10⁻⁶ in the case of radon and formaldehyde. PM_2.5 mass concentration values exceeded the 24 h and annual guideline values set by the World Health Organization in 56 and 85% of the cases, respectively. About 80% of the schools could not manage to comply with the recommended concentration value for carbon dioxide (1000 ppm).     

套室内人体热舒适的研究

借助于通用流场计算软件PHOENICS，在考虑了外界气温、太阳的热辐射条件，家具以及人员等室内微气候影响的情况下，预测了两室一厅套室内气流三维流场和温度场。得到了套室内气流的速度、温度和人体热舒适指数等参数的分布，并经过评定，该套室内的热环境达到了人体的舒适性要求。模拟计算结果对套室的设计及其空调系统的配置具有重要的参考价值，并为套室内人体热舒适的进一步研究和室内空气品质问题的研究奠定了基础。     

The effects of bedroom air quality on sleep and next‐day performance

The effects of bedroom air quality on sleep and next‐day performance were examined in two field‐intervention experiments in single‐occupancy student dormitory rooms. The occupants, half of them women, could adjust an electric heater to maintain thermal comfort but they experienced two bedroom ventilation conditions, each maintained for 1 week, in balanced order. In the initial pilot experiment (N = 14), bedroom ventilation was changed by opening a window (the resulting average CO₂ level was 2585 or 660 ppm). In the second experiment (N = 16), an inaudible fan in the air intake vent was either disabled or operated whenever CO₂ levels exceeded 900 ppm (the resulting average CO₂ level was 2395 or 835 ppm). Bedroom air temperatures varied over a wide range but did not differ between ventilation conditions. Sleep was assessed from movement data recorded on wristwatch‐type actigraphs and subjects reported their perceptions and their well‐being each morning using online questionnaires. Two tests of next‐day mental performance were applied. Objectively measured sleep quality and the perceived freshness of bedroom air improved significantly when the CO₂ level was lower, as did next‐day reported sleepiness and ability to concentrate and the subjects' performance of a test of logical thinking.     

对热舒适、空气感觉质量及能耗的模拟研究

室内空调设计温度和新风量对热舒适，室内空气质量及能耗量有重要影响，然而对它们之间相互关系进行研究的文献却较少。通过计算机模拟空调系统在7种室内设计温度和7种新风量条件下的运行情况，得到不同的设计条件组合对热舒适、人体感觉空气质量及建筑能耗量的影响。基于这项分析，提出了此办公建筑合理的室内设计温度和新风量取值。     

The outdoor air ventilation rate in high-rise residences employing room air conditioners

Ventilation is important because it affects indoor environmental conditions, including air pollutant concentrations that may modify the health of the occupants of a building, or their perceptions and comfort. This paper reports, first of all, on field studies monitoring indoor overnight CO₂ levels and outdoor ventilation rates in bedrooms employing room air conditioners (RACs), so the current situation of ventilation in actual high-rise residential buildings in Hong Kong can be appreciated. This is followed by a report of the results of laboratory experiments where two typical RACs were used in an examination of outdoor air ventilation characteristics in rooms employing RACs. The results of field studies showed that the outdoor ventilation rates in the measured bedrooms equipped with RACs in high-rise residential buildings in Hong Kong could not meet the ventilation requirement specified in the ASHRAE standard 62-2001 even if there was only one occupant in a bedroom. Although the use of a window-type air conditioner (WRAC) may provide a higher outdoor ventilation rate than the use of a split-type air conditioner (SARC), this may be ascribed to the fact there is more natural infiltration when a WRAC is used. The ventilation damper currently available in a WRAC does not significantly affect the outdoor ventilation rate. Therefore, such a damper cannot be expected to provide the ventilation rate as required by a ventilation code and its intended function of controlling ventilation is limited. In addition, the air exhausted from indoors to outdoors through the ventilation outlet in a WRAC is air that has just been cooled by the cooling coil (evaporator). This is unreasonable, because exhausting just-cooled and dehumidified air is a waste of energy. Therefore, an improved design for a WRAC has been suggested. Finally, the outdoor ventilation requirement for bedrooms at nighttime, when occupants are asleep, is discussed. A new ventilation rate of 3.0 l/s per person for the sleeping environment in high-rise residential buildings is proposed.     

Indoor air quality and energy performance of air-conditioned office buildings in Singapore

An integrated indoor air quality (IAQ)-energy audit methodology has been developed in this study in Singapore, which provides a rigorous and systematic method of obtaining the status-quo assessment of an 'IAQ signature' in a building. The methodology entails a multi-disciplinary model in obtaining measured data pertaining to different dimensions within the built environment such as the physical, chemical, biological, ventilation, and occupant response characteristics. This paper describes the audit methodology and presents the findings from five air-conditioned office buildings in Singapore. The research has also led to the development of an indoor pollutant standard index (IPSI), which is discussed in this paper. Other performance indicators such as, the ventilation index and the energy index as well as the building symptom index (BSI) are also presented and discussed in the context of an integrated approach to IAQ and energy. Several correlation attempts were made on the various symptoms, indoor air acceptability, thermal comfort, BSI and IPSI, and while BSI values are found to correlate among them as well as with IAQ and THERMAL COMFORT acceptability, no such correlation was observed between BSI and IPSI. This would suggest that the occupants' perception of symptoms experienced as well as environmental acceptability is quite distinct from IAQ acceptability determined from empirical measurements of indoor pollutants, which reinforces the complex nature of IAQ issues.     

Perceived indoor air quality in naturally ventilated primary schools in the UK: Impact of environmental variables and thermal sensation

Indoor air quality (IAQ) in classrooms has a significant impact on children's academic performance, health, and well-being; therefore, understanding children's perception of IAQ is vital. This study investigates how children's perception of IAQ is affected by environmental variables and thermal sensation. In total, 29 naturally ventilated classrooms in eight UK primary schools were selected and 805 children were surveyed during non-heating and heating seasons. Results show that air sensation votes (ASVs) are more correlated to CO₂ levels than to operative temperatures (T_op) during non-heating seasons and more correlated to T_op than CO₂ levels during heating seasons. The impact of T_op on ASVs decreases with an increase in CO₂ levels, and the effect of CO₂ levels on ASVs decreases with increase in T_op. The most favorable ASVs are given when children feel “cool” and have “as it is” preference. By keeping CO₂ < 1000 ppm and T_op within children's thermal comfort band, ASVs are improved by 43%. The study recommends that standards should consider the impact of both temperature and CO₂ levels on perceived IAQ. Perception of IAQ also affects children's overall comfort and tiredness levels; however, this influence is more significant on tiredness level than that on overall comfort level.     

The effect of structures on indoor humidity--possibility to improve comfort and perceived air quality

The research presented in this paper shows that moisture transfer between indoor air and hygroscopic building structures can generally improve indoor humidity conditions. This is important because the literature shows that indoor humidity has a significant effect on occupant comfort, perceived air quality (PAQ), occupant health, building durability, material emissions, and energy consumption. Therefore, it appears possible to improve the quality of life of occupants when appropriately applying hygroscopic wood-based materials. The paper concentrates on the numerical investigation of a bedroom in a wooden building located in four European countries (Finland, Belgium, Germany, and Italy). The results show that moisture transfer between indoor air and the hygroscopic structure significantly reduces the peak indoor humidity. Based on correlations from the literature, which quantify the effect of temperature and humidity on comfort and PAQ for sedentary adults, hygroscopic structures can improve indoor comfort and air quality. In all the investigated climates, it is possible to improve the indoor conditions such that, as many as 10 more people of 100 are satisfied with the thermal comfort conditions (warm respiratory comfort) at the end of occupation. Similarly, the percent dissatisfied with PAQ can be 25% lower in the morning when permeable and hygroscopic structures are applied.     

Locating air-conditioners and furniture inside residential flats to obtain good thermal comfort

Majority of residential apartments in Hong Kong may be equipped with up to three window-type air-conditioners that operate during 7 months of hot and humid weather. The units are placed in the living rooms and bedrooms. The positions of these units and furniture inside these small rooms are directed in some extent by the architectural design, however, residents have possibility to decide about their actual position. The occupants should locate their air-conditioner with respect to the room furniture to avoid the cold air re-circulation and draft, and to obtain good thermal comfort for residents. To accomplish this, flat manufacturers should give some recommendations to the occupants, and architects should include such concerns in their design. For three positions of an air-conditioner unit and one position of a bed and a cupboard in a typical Hong Kong residential bedroom, the air velocities, temperatures, and air diffusion performance index are determined by using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software FLOVENT. The cases with the maximum benefit and maximum consequences in terms of thermal comfort in the bedroom are identified.     

Sick building syndrome—A case study in a multistory centrally air-conditioned building in the Delhi City

Recently, airtight envelope system has become popular in the design of office buildings to reduce heating and cooling loads. Maintaining allowable indoor air quality (IAQ) for such airtight buildings totally depends on mechanical ventilation systems. Subsequently, poor operation of the ventilation system in such office buildings causes ineffective removal of polluted indoor air, and displays a sign of “sick building syndrome” (SBS). User's perception is an important parameter for evaluating IAQ. A questionnaire study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of the SBS at a multistory centrally air-conditioned Airport Authority of India (AAI) building in the New Delhi city. Quantification of the perceptions of the users regarding IAQ was done by converting their responses to a SBS score. The quantified answers were then subjected to statistical analysis. Qualitative analysis of the questionnaire was carried out to evaluate relationships between SBS score and carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other parameters related to building and work environment. Quantitative analysis of IAQ was also conducted by monitoring indoor concentrations of four pollutants, namely, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and carbon monoxide (CO). Concentrations of pollutants were complying with IAQ standards as given by ASHRAE and WHO. The SBS was higher on the third floor as compared to other floors and the control tower. The main symptoms prevailing were headache (51%), lethargy (50%), and dryness in body mucous (33%). The third floor and the control tower were affected by infiltration, mainly from entrance doors. A direct relation between the average SBS score and CO₂ concentration was found, i.e., the average SBS score increased with CO₂ concentration and vice versa, clearly signifying the usefulness of SBS score in IAQ.     

置换通风的发展及研究现状

基于置换通风舒适、健康和节能的显著特点,本文回顾了置换通风的发展历程,从室内空气品质和节能等方面阐述了国内外置换通风的研究现状。气流组织、热舒适性和污染物分布是影响置换通风室内空气品质的主要因素,因而论文主要从置换通风的两个显著特性：热力分层和垂直温度梯度的角度讨论了室内热舒适性影响因素和研究现状,从颗粒和气体污染物的分布情况论述污染物对室内空气品质的影响,根据置换通风的气流特性,提出可以把室内污染物分为热源和冷源污染物进行研究;最后简要介绍了置换通风节能的情况和优势。