Thermal Comfort Study Based on Questionnaire Survey among Occupants in Different Climate Zones in China

Abstract

In order to understand current state of the thermal sensation and environment control strategy in different climate zones of China, a questionnaire survey was conducted on the internet during extreme weather in summer. The questions in the survey were designed based on ISO 7730 and previous literatures on adaptive thermal comfort. A total of 927 valid questionnaires were acquired, which involved respondents from 29 provincial-level administrative regions of China in different climate zones. The result, which is based on the compilation of responses from the survey, indicates that the occupants living in the hot summer and cold winter zone are more dependant on the air conditioner, and occupants living in south of the hot summer and cold winter zone are more adaptable to extreme weather in summer. The most common adaptive behavior is reducing clothes for all the investigated zones. Compared with male respondents, more female respondents would like to use hand fans to improve their thermal comfort. This paper provides speaking proof that different thermal comfort standard is needed for different climate zones in China