The Comfort Temperature for Exposed Stone Houses and Wooden Houses in Mountainous Areas
Hermawan Hermawan, Eddy Prianto, Erni Setyowati
Abstract
ABSTRACT One of the outputs of adaptive thermal comfort theory is the production of occupants’ comfort temperature. The comfort temperature for occupants is influenced by microclimate and certain personal factors particularly age and sex. Microclimate in a room of a building is also influenced by wall materials. Different materials will bring about different indoor temperatures. The present study found out the comfort temperature for occupants considering their age and sex in four different seasonal periods. The study was carried out to two types of houses with different wall materials-exposed stone and wood. Data were collected during four seasonal periods including the beginning of the wet season, the middle of the wet season, the beginning of the dry season, and the middle of the dry season. The variables encompass indoor air temperatures and occupants’ ASHRAE seven-point thermal sensation scale. The data were then analyzed using linear regression resulting in mathematical equations. The comfort temperature for the occupants was obtained from the calculation of the equations. The study revealed varied comfort temperatures due to different adaptation to the four different seasonal periods. Also, the occupants of the two different types of houses reported different comfort temperatures. Age and sex exert an influence on comfort temperatures.