Examination of the Thermal Neutrality for Residents of a Warm-Humid Urban Environment

Abstract

The paper examined the applicability of thermal neutrality equations to the thermal responses of residents in a field study within a tropical warm-humid urban environment in Ibadan, Nigeria. A total of 528 houses were selected for the survey using systematic random sampling within twelve neighborhoods selected by stratified random sampling in the metropolis. For each selected building, an adult resident filled a questionnaire indicating the adaptive thermal response at different periods of the day using the ASHRAE thermal comfort scale. Measurement of indoor and outdoor air temperature and other thermal comfort parameters was done in representative buildings in the neighborhoods. It was found that the residents’ thermal neutrality was higher than values predicted by applied thermal neutrality equations inferring opportunities for sustainable comfort. It was concluded that there is essentially a climatic and contextual basis for the application of thermal neutrality equations.