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A comparative study of gender differences in thermal comfort and environmental satisfaction in air-conditioned offices in Qatar, India, and Japan

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submitted on 2023-10-24, 08:48 and posted on 2023-10-24, 11:39 authored by Madhavi Indraganti, Michael A. Humphreys

Gender differences in the assessment of thermal comfort and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) have not previously been investigated, despite the prevalence of the overcooling of indoor spaces. This study investigated the effect of sex, age and body mass index on subjective thermal comfort perceptions, comfort temperature and IEQ satisfaction in offices using our thermal comfort surveys in Qatar, India, and Japan. Data from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) databases were used for comparison. We found that females were twice as likely to feel dissatisfied with thermal sensation than males in Doha. Overall, females felt colder than men, and were less satisfied with all IEQ parameters. In Doha, females, younger subjects, and high-BMI subjects had lower comfort temperatures than their counterparts.

Increased indoor air speeds and the provision of personal environmental controls could effectively reduce female dissatisfaction and save energy in Qatar. Women's more stringent thermal comfort preferences could be used to evaluate occupant control provisions and IEQ standards. A robust IEQ complaint redressal system may also be required in offices. This study highlights the need to consider female perspectives and thermal expectations in the environmental design of workplaces as well, not merely privacy concerns.

Other Information

Published in: Building and Environment
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108297

Funding

Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library

History

Language

  • English

Publisher

Elsevier

Publication Year

  • 2021

License statement

This Item is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Institution affiliated with

  • Qatar University
  • College of Engineering - QU

Geographic coverage

Qatar, India, and Japan

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    Qatar University

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