Thermal Comfort
Thermal comfort is a concept in building science and environmental engineering that refers to the condition of mind where a person expresses satisfaction with their thermal environment. It involves the subjective perception of temperature, humidity, air movement, and clothing, and is critical for occupant well-being, productivity, and energy efficiency in buildings. Standards like ASHRAE Standard 55 and ISO 7730 provide guidelines and models (e.g., Predicted Mean Vote) to assess and design for thermal comfort.
Developers should learn about thermal comfort when working on smart building systems, HVAC controls, IoT devices for environmental monitoring, or sustainability-focused applications to ensure user comfort and optimize energy use. It's essential for projects involving building automation, indoor climate simulations, or green building certifications like LEED, where integrating sensors and algorithms to maintain comfort can reduce costs and improve occupant satisfaction.