Hui Zhang

Radiant heating is a promising strategy for improving thermal comfort while reducing heating energy demand, but existing local thermal sensation and comfort models, including the Berkeley model, were developed mainly from convective data and have rarely been evaluated under localized radiant heating in indoor building environments. This study assessed and modified the existing Berkeley local thermal sensation and comfort models using experimental data from neutral conditions and localized radiant heating applied to different body parts across 459 experimental sessions, then validated the models using independent asymmetric and transient experiments. The Berkeley model showed substantial prediction errors under radiant heating, with local sensation and comfort mean absolute errors (MAE) reaching up to 2.42 and 1.89 scale units, respectively, with the largest deviations observed for the head (sensation) and lower leg (comfort). Across body parts, the modified models reduced MAE by up to 83% for sensation and up to 61% for comfort. Validation against independent asymmetric and transient experimental datasets confirmed the improvement, where MAE decreased from 1.12-1.18 to 0.83-0.84 for local sensation and from 1.10 to 0.82-0.88 for local comfort, with 70–97% of participants showing improvement. Improvements were observed for most body parts, and some regions showed only small differences. Overall, the results show that new local neutral setpoints and coefficients improve the prediction of local thermal sensation and comfort under radiant heating. The new coefficient sets provide a basis for the design and control of localized radiant heating systems that aim to maintain comfort while reducing building heating demand.

In hot and humid climates, achieving thermal comfort remains challenging, particularly in energy-constrained indoor environments occupied by heat-vulnerable populations. Fans provide effective ways for efficient cooling. Studies show that the cooling effect is stronger when airflow from multiple directions. Wall fans can be installed easily on multiple locations and create airflow with multiple directions. This study investigate airflow coverage and its vertical continuity from two multiple fans, and evaluated their cooling effect using SET and modified PMV models. Experiments were conducted by varying the relative installation position, heights, and discharge angles in a residential space setting. Spatial air speed distributions within the space were measured. The results show that two fans in opposite two corners towards the middle of the room but not directly facing each other create a big and uniform airflow field in the space. The airflow coverage within the space is an important factor affecting cooling effect. Configurations that provided broader coverage and better vertical continuity tended to produce more stable and spatially uniform cooling. Under the tested conditions, well-organized fans can achieve an effective coverage ratio exceeding 60 % in the space and CE values of approximately 3–5 °C . Installation height also affected posture-dependent cooling, with 1 m performing better for sitting occupants and 2 m for standing occupants. Environmental and personal factors further modulate cooling effect, with higher relative humidity and increased clothing insulation reducing the cooling contribution of airflow. These findings provide practical guidance for optimizing wall-fan layouts in energy-constrained indoor environments.

This study examines how personal comfort systems (PCS) support thermal adaptation among adults with intellectual disabilities living in energy-poor households in Chile. Participants (n = 8) in two identical social-housing units completed two in-home field campaigns: winter (June–August 2023; 10 weeks) and summer (December 2023–March 2024; 14 weeks). The study combined an adapted daily point-in-time thermal comfort questionnaire, continuous indoor dry-bulb temperature monitoring (15 min), and pre-/post-season interviews. Indoor conditions frequently fell outside reference comfort thresholds (92.6% of winter temperatures < 21.5°C; 64.1% of summer temperatures > 26°C). Using participant-level paired comparisons with thermal preference ‘No change’ as a comfort proxy, PCS use showed no systematic winter increase (median Δ = –0.014; p = 0.944) but a consistent summer increase (median Δ = 0.126; p = 0.014). Interview accounts indicated that PCS supported everyday adaptation, while operability and access constraints sometimes limited independent use. Findings highlight the potential of inclusive PCS to improve perceived comfort under summer heat stress, alongside the need for complementary building-level measures to reduce thermal exposure in vulnerable housing. POLICY RELEVANCE This research offers insights for housing, energy, and disability policy: Current indoor temperatures in vulnerable housing can fail to meet thermal comfort standards, exacerbating energy poverty among people with intellectual disabilities. PCS can support autonomy and thermal adaptation, but must be accessible, usable, and tailored to diverse cognitive profiles. Policies promoting energy equity should incorporate adaptive and personalized technologies alongside improvements in housing infrastructure. Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial to develop inclusive thermal solutions that bridge health, housing, and disability sectors.

As critical urban blue–green infrastructure, urban wetland parks serve as vital venues for visitors to obtain restorative experiences. However, existing studies primarily emphasize their ecological and economic benefits, with comparatively limited attention paid to their roles in promoting public mental health and enhancing well-being. Using Yanghu Wetland Park in Changsha as a case study, this research investigates how restorative environmental perception influences visitors’ well-being through two mediating variables: environmental preference and place attachment. A total of 251 valid responses were collected through field surveys and questionnaires. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to empirically examine the relationships among the variables. This study enriches the theoretical framework of environmental psychology and urban landscape behavior research. It also provides evidence-based insights into the planning and design of urban wetland parks, contributing to the enhancement of public well-being and overall life satisfaction.