Investigation of thermal comfort, productivity and lighting conditions in higher education buildings

Abstract

Thermal comfort and lighting conditions are essential aspects of indoor environmental quality. They are considered to influence the productivity of room users. The paper presents the experimental test results of research conducted in the university educational building of Kielce University of Technology (Central Poland) using anonymous questionnaires and physical measurements of indoor air parameters with a high-precision microclimate meter. It covers the analysis of the subjective assessment of thermal sensations, acceptability and preference, as well as productivity, lighting and air quality in eleven rooms (both lecture rooms and classrooms). The study analyses the impact of the indoor environment (mostly air temperature and illuminance) on the subjective sensations of the respondents they expressed in the questionnaires. The experiments have enabled us to provide valuable insights into developing the proper indoor environmental conditions to maximise room users' comfort and productivity.