Measurement of Amenity in Buildings Interiors Coated with Ceramic Insulating Paint

AbstractThe distribution of indoor air temperature in living environments can vary considerably as a result of temperature-induced differences in air density. During wintertime heating, warm air tends to concentrate toward the ceiling, leaving the lower portion near the floor (the primary area of occupant activity) relatively cold. There are ways to alleviate this situation, most notably forced convection by means of an air circulator. One problem with that approach, however, is that the temperature felt by the occupant is lower due to the chill caused by the air currents. In this research, ceramic insulating paint was applied to the interior walls of a test room (the paint contains many small ceramic particles and, through its insulative effects, is thought to increase energy efficiency). From this investigation, it was found that the ceramic insulating paint was effective in maintaining a high temperature near the floor during heating (and for an extended time after heating) without forced convection. The amenity of the test room was also evaluated