A better understanding of thermal Alliesthesia and thermal Adaptation for correctly predicting dynamic thermal comfort

Much of the effort in thermal comfort research has been given to understand which environmental and personal steady-state conditions lead to thermal comfort.

This focus on static and isothermal states has been translated in the prescription of fixed set-point temperatures in buildings.

Now, a paradigm shift in the way energy is generated and used calls for a complete rethink of the way buildings are designed and operated.

In contrast to a fixed set-point driven design, the implementation of set-point modulations in buildings allows to shift and/or shave heating and cooling peak loads and contributes to boost buildings’ flexibility.

However, a scarce knowledge of the effect of dynamic indoor conditions on occupants’ thermal comfort still prevents the design and adoption of comfortable temperature fluctuations.

While big advancements have been made in modelling the physics of the heat and mass transfer into and out of the human body (i.e. the passive system of multi-segmental dynamic models of human thermoregulation), still very little is known on how the brain processes and integrates sensory inputs to create thermal perceptions, particularly during dynamic indoor conditions.

The proposed research project aims to address this knowledge deficit by shedding new light on the psycho-physiological mechanisms driving the dynamic thermal perception, with a particular focus on the phenomena of thermal alliesthesia and thermal adaptation, and by creating a more accurate predictive thermal comfort model, which is able to better account for these two phenomena.

This project will provide the research community with a new robust set of empirical data, novel knowledge and a novel physiological-based dynamic thermal comfort model, which has the potential to revolutionize the way professionals and researchers design and operate indoor comfort systems: not just aiming for thermal neutrality but striving for thermal delight.