An Experimental Study on the Effects of Climatic Characteristics on People's Adaptability to the Thermal Environment

摘要

This paper tried to find how the climatic characteristics affect people's adaptability to the thermal environment. Hence, an experimental study on the effects of transient season (from spring to summer) and the occupant's native areas on indoor thermal sensation was taken in a climate chamber. Results revealed that people's tolerance to cool and warm indoor environment was different in transient season. When the outdoor temperature was higher, the occupants had weaker tolerance to cool indoor environment, while they had stronger tolerance to warm indoor environment. Besides, it was found that the occupants' thermal sensation to the same indoor environment depends on not only the climatic characteristics of the season but also of their native areas. The people from south China presented greater tolerance to both warm and cool environment than those from the north. The reason why was explained according to the occupants' adaptability to the climatic characteristics and the indoor thermal environment of their native areas in different climate zones.