Using adaptive strategies of natural ventilation with tolerances applied to the upper limit to improve social dwellings' thermal comfort in current and future scenarios

Summer weather conditions in Spain generate many thermal discomfort hours. Consequently, it is difficult for low-income family units to ensure adequate conditions inside dwellings. Natural ventilation could improve the thermal comfort conditions of these users. However, the number of thermal comfort hours could be limited in summer. This study analyses the possibility of improving users' thermal comfort by applying tolerances to the upper limit of adaptive thermal comfort models. The study is conducted in 10 Spanish cities in the current scenario and in a climate change scenario. The tolerances were those considered by the adaptive standards: 1.2 degrees C, 1.8 degrees C and 2.2 degrees C. The results showed that the use of the upper limit without tolerances could imply a low number of thermal comfort hours in some cities and that the use of the tolerances would improve thermal comfort conditions. The estimated climatic evolution throughout the 21st century could limit the use of natural ventilation even with tolerances in the warmer regions, while in regions with less severity in summer natural ventilation would be an appropriate measure.

Automated summary

Summer weather conditions in Spain result in insufficient thermal comfort hours for low-income families. This study analyzes the possibility of enhancing users' thermal comfort by applying tolerances to adaptive thermal comfort models. The results demonstrate that the use of tolerances can improve thermal comfort conditions.