TY - GEN
T1 - Showering Thermal Physiology and Energy Consumption
AU - Zhang, Dadi
AU - Mui, Kwok Wai
AU - Wong, Ling Tim
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.
PY - 2024/12/23
Y1 - 2024/12/23
N2 - The thermal environment in buildings, including bathrooms, is essential to occupants’ health and energy consumption. Many thermal comfort models have been developed in recent decades. However, only a limited number of models are available that attempt to forecast individuals’ thermal sensations while showering, and these models rarely take into account people’s thermal physiology. This study applied a dynamic thermal sensation (DTS) model developed by a recent study to predict people’s thermal comfort during the undressing and showering processes under different settings. The results were compared with the subjects’ self-reported thermal sensations collected during a previous field study, and the differences between them indicated the necessity of improving the DTS model during showering. Additionally, these findings showed that the water temperature preferred by most people (about 39 ℃) might lead to a hot thermal sensation during showering. Considering the greater influence of water temperature compared to air temperature on energy consumption, it is recommended to maintain relatively lower water temperatures and higher air temperatures during showering. This setting could ensure a comfortable thermal sensation for undressing and showering while promoting energy conservation.
AB - The thermal environment in buildings, including bathrooms, is essential to occupants’ health and energy consumption. Many thermal comfort models have been developed in recent decades. However, only a limited number of models are available that attempt to forecast individuals’ thermal sensations while showering, and these models rarely take into account people’s thermal physiology. This study applied a dynamic thermal sensation (DTS) model developed by a recent study to predict people’s thermal comfort during the undressing and showering processes under different settings. The results were compared with the subjects’ self-reported thermal sensations collected during a previous field study, and the differences between them indicated the necessity of improving the DTS model during showering. Additionally, these findings showed that the water temperature preferred by most people (about 39 ℃) might lead to a hot thermal sensation during showering. Considering the greater influence of water temperature compared to air temperature on energy consumption, it is recommended to maintain relatively lower water temperatures and higher air temperatures during showering. This setting could ensure a comfortable thermal sensation for undressing and showering while promoting energy conservation.
KW - Dynamic Thermal Sensation
KW - Mean Skin Temperature
KW - Showering
KW - Thermal Energy Consumption
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85214091109&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/978-981-97-8317-5_14
DO - 10.1007/978-981-97-8317-5_14
M3 - Conference article published in proceeding or book
AN - SCOPUS:85214091109
SN - 9789819783168
T3 - Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering
SP - 91
EP - 95
BT - Multiphysics and Multiscale Building Physics - Proceedings of the 9th International Building Physics Conference IBPC 2024
A2 - Berardi, Umberto
PB - Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
T2 - 9th International Building Physics Conference, IBPC 2024
Y2 - 25 July 2024 through 27 July 2024
ER -
