%0 Journal Article
%T Field Study on Nationality Differences in Thermal Comfort of University Students in Dormitories during Winter in Japan
%J Buildings | An Open Access Journal from MDPI
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings9100213
%X Comfort in university dormitory buildings in Japan is under-investigated as compared to offices and residences. A winter field survey conducted in two university dormitories in Central Japan aimed at investigating the differences in thermal responses of occupants relative to nationality and; to estimate their neutral and comfortable temperature under identical climatic conditions. Acceptability of the indoor environment was invariably high. While evaluation and preference votes depended on nationality; thermal sensation vote did not. Both Japanese and non-Japanese subjects voted neutral at a mean indoor temperature of 22 ˇăC. The estimated probability of voting neutral for Japanese subjects was highest (65%) from 19 ˇăC to 22 ˇăC, while for non-Japanese subjects it was highest (75%) at a wider range: From 19 ˇăC to 24 ˇăC. Japanese students were more sensitive of and more critical about their indoor environment as opposed to the internationals (adjusted regression coefficients 0.55/K and 0.20/K). GriffithsˇŻ model estimated the comfortable temperature for non-Japanese subjects at a 2 ˇăC wider range and at a 2 ˇăC higher average than for Japanese subject. Neutral and comfortable temperatures observed and estimated in the study were split above and below the recommended temperature threshold of 20 ˇăC for Japan in winter. View Full-Tex
%U https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/9/10/213