Zhou, Haixia;
Yu, Wei;
Wei, Shen;
Zhao, Keyao;
Shan, Hanyu;
Zheng, Song;
Guo, Lei;
(2025)
Variability in thermal comfort and behavior of elderly individuals with different levels of frailty in residential buildings during winter.
Building and Environment
, 267
(Part B)
, Article 112290. 10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.112290.
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Abstract
Research on the indoor thermal comfort of elderly individuals has become increasingly detailed, yet studies focusing on the impact of health levels on elderly thermal comfort are still relatively scarce. Due to aging and various chronic diseases, elderly individuals exhibit different physical states, affecting their physiological regulatory functions in response to thermal environmental changes. This study aimed to validate the impact of health levels on elderly thermal comfort and behavior during winter, by employing the Fried frailty assessment method. A survey was conducted in the HSCW regions of China, gathering 1437 valid questionnaires. The analysis revealed that frailty significantly impacts the winter thermal comfort and behavior of the elderly. Specific findings include: 1) Frailer elderly individuals express greater complaints about indoor environments; 2) Frailer elderly are more dependent on heating devices; 3) Frailer elderly have higher rates of closing windows with higher Tout prompting window closure. The Tout prompting non-frailty elderly to completely close windows is 8.1 °C, while for pre-frail and frail elderly, it is 16.7 °C and 16.0 °C, respectively; 4) Frailer elderly individuals exhibit higher Icl, with median values of 1.56 clo for non-frail, 1.68 clo for pre-frail, and 1.71 clo for frail elderly; 5) Frailer elderly individuals have lower MR daily, with median metabolic rates of 1.71 met for non-frail, 1.42 met for pre-frail, and 1.17 met for frail. This study found that the level of frailty significantly impacts the winter thermal comfort and behavior of the elderly and should be considered in future elderly-friendly architectural designs.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Variability in thermal comfort and behavior of elderly individuals with different levels of frailty in residential buildings during winter |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.112290 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.112290 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Elderly people, frailty, thermal comfort, behavior |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10200114 |
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