In the heart of Xi’an, a city known for its ancient history and modern innovation, researchers are uncovering new insights into how short-term heat exposure affects students in university classrooms. This groundbreaking study, led by JIANG Jing from the School of Urban Planning and Municipal Engineering at Xi’an Polytechnic University, sheds light on thermal comfort and adaptation during the transition seasons, with significant implications for the energy sector.
Imagine a typical classroom in Xi’an during the spring or autumn. The weather outside is mild, but inside, the temperature can fluctuate, affecting students’ comfort and learning efficiency. JIANG Jing and her team set out to understand these dynamics by measuring thermal environment parameters in classrooms and surveying 307 students on their thermal sensations and self-assessed learning efficiency.
The findings are intriguing. The study revealed that the expected neutral temperature, influenced by short-term thermal experiences, is 25.8°C, while the measured thermal neutral temperature is 22.7°C—a difference of 3.1°C. This discrepancy suggests that short-term heat exposure can lower the neutral temperature, indicating that students adapt to their thermal environment over time.
“This adaptation is crucial for understanding how to optimize classroom conditions for better learning outcomes,” JIANG Jing explained. “By recognizing the impact of short-term thermal experiences, we can design more efficient heating and cooling systems that not only save energy but also enhance student comfort and performance.”
The research also estimated the adaptive average thermal sensation during the influence period of short-term thermal experience. By analyzing students’ feedback on learning efficiency and enthusiasm, the team found that the highest levels of engagement occurred when the short-term hot experience duration was between 5 to 10 minutes. Conversely, the lowest levels were observed when the duration was 0 to 3 minutes.
These insights have far-reaching implications for the energy sector. As buildings become smarter and more energy-efficient, understanding how occupants adapt to thermal conditions can lead to significant energy savings. For instance, HVAC systems can be programmed to adjust temperatures based on the time of day and occupancy patterns, reducing energy consumption during periods of lower thermal sensitivity.
Moreover, the study highlights the importance of considering human factors in building design and management. By integrating adaptive comfort models into building performance simulations, architects and engineers can create more sustainable and comfortable learning environments.
The research, published in Xi’an Gongcheng Daxue xuebao, which translates to the Journal of Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, provides a valuable reference for future studies on thermal comfort and adaptation in educational settings. As the demand for energy-efficient buildings grows, this work offers a roadmap for leveraging thermal adaptation to achieve both comfort and sustainability.
For the energy sector, the implications are clear: by understanding and leveraging thermal adaptation, we can design buildings that are not only energy-efficient but also conducive to the well-being and productivity of their occupants. As JIANG Jing’s research demonstrates, the future of sustainable building design lies in the intersection of human comfort and technological innovation.
