A field investigation of the thermal comfort of older adults in cold winter climates

Population ageing, extreme weather, and high energy costs are the current and future global scenarios. The present study analyses the factors affecting the thermal comfort of older adults and evaluates their thermal perceptions and preferences in nursing homes in a Continental Mediterranean climate during winter, through environmental measurements and surveys on site. The sample consists of 1065 occupants. Results of this study revealed that the neutral temperature of older adults in nursing homes in cold winter climates is 24.9°C, 2.3°C higher than what PMV predicts. Results also highlight that older adults feel more comfortable in those spaces with higher CO2 concentrations than recommended by regulation. The analysis of factors affecting thermal comfort revealed that the most relevant factors affecting the thermal comfort of older adults in cold winter climates are (i) the type of room, which indirectly implies the metabolic rate of the occupants, the type of ventilation, and the CO2 level; (ii) the occupancy density; and (iii) the relative humidity of the room. These results will help to develop more accurate thermal comfort and indoor environmental quality regulations for older people that improve their health and quality of life. The modification of temperature setpoints in nursing homes based on the results of this study could influence energy use and should be carefully considered by policy makers and facility managers.This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness under R&D project Thecoelen, reference no. PID2019-106777RB-C21. Additionally, thanks are due to Sanitas Mayores and especially Eng. Marc Vallet and Eng. Albert Ayala for providing their nursing homes and helping to collect all required data. The authors would also like to extend their appreciation to all caregivers, maintenance staff, and elderly people who participated in this project. This work was also supported by the Catalan agency AGAUR through its research group support program (2021 SGR 00341). Open access funding was enabled and organized by CRUE-CSUC Gold.Peer ReviewedObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::11 - Ciutats i Comunitats SosteniblesPostprint (published version