Effect of seasonal adaptation on outdoor thermal comfort in a hot-summer and cold-winter city

ABSTRACT In China, little research on outdoor thermal comfort has been conducted in the hot-summer and cold-winter zone where occupants are in the state of thermal discomfort for most time of the year. This paper presents results from both field measurement and questionnaire survey in the city of Wuhan in both summer and winter seasons about seasonal adaptation effect on outdoor thermal comfort. A total of 417 samples were collected in summer and 426 samples were collected in winter. The neutral standard effective temperature (SET*) in winter and summer was found to be 24.7°C and 25.6°C, respectively. Occupants achieved thermal comfort when their thermal sensation was slightly cool in summer and slightly warm in winter. The SET* with 100% thermal acceptance rate in summer and winter was found to be 27.9°C, 23.4°C, respectively. The results reveal large seasonal differences in achieving outdoor thermal comfort for people in hot-summer and cold-winter climate zone. This research can add more database to outdoor thermal comfort research in China and provide more insights into the thermal adaptation of seasonal effect on outdoor thermal comfort. Its findings can also assist urban designers to create thermally comfortable urban spaces in different seasons.