Longitudinal Analysis of Thermal Responses: A Comparative Study of Home and Office Environments in Singapore and Japan

Abstract

Despite extensive research on thermal comfort across various building types and climates, a significant gap remains in understanding how location and climate variations influence thermal responses, particularly between home and office settings. This study aimed this gap by quantitatively analysing the differences in thermal comfort between home and office environments in Singapore (hot climate) and Tokyo, Japan (template climate) using Bayesian estimation, as well as discussing the factors influencing thermal comfort. Twenty-four participants joined a longitudinal field study from January to April 2023, providing daily survey responses while indoor environmental parameters were monitored in both their homes and offices. Data collection was conducted through a watch-based survey system. The results indicated that Singapore homes with higher air temperature of 4.3 °C than offices, and Japanese homes with 3.0 °C temperature cooler than offices, both revealed insignificant negative impact on participants’ thermal comfort. Through a Bayesian estimation, we observed wider thermal comfort temperature range at homes (up to 5.7 times) than in offices, which is possibly explained by greater perceived control, financial considerations, and lower thermal expectations at home. Locations and climates may shape participants' thermal expectations, leading to potential differences in their temperature preferences. Our findings suggest that aligning office environments closer to home settings could enhance thermal comfort and reduce energy consumption for space conditioning.