Elsevier

Energy Policy

Volume 49, October 2012, Pages 116-121
Energy Policy

Health and thermal comfort: From WHO guidance to housing strategies

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2011.09.003Get rights and content

Abstract

There are many references to the WHO guidance on thermal comfort in housing, but not to the original source material. Based on archive material, this paper gives the evidential basis for the WHO guidance. It then reports on evidence that some groups may be more susceptible to high or low indoor temperatures than others. It examines different methods for measuring thermal comfort, such as air temperature measurement, assessing residents' perception, and predicting satisfaction. Resident's perception was used effectively in the WHO LARES project, showing that self-reported poor health was significantly associated with poor thermal comfort.

Tools to inform strategies directed at dealing with cold homes and fuel poverty are considered, including Energy Performance Certificates, Fuel Poverty Indicators, and the English Housing Health and Safety Rating System. Conclusions from a WHO Workshop on Housing, Energy and Thermal Comfort are also summarised.

The WHO view of thermal comfort, which is driven by protecting health from both high and low indoor temperatures, should be recognised in energy efficiency, fuel poverty and climate change strategies. While this is a major challenge, it could provide both health gains for individuals, and economic benefits for society.

Highlights

► WHO guidance on thermal comfort is directed to protecting health in the home environment. ► In particular, the WHO guidance aims to protect the health of the most susceptible and fragile. ► Housing energy efficiency strategies protect health, and attack inequities. ► Housing energy efficiency strategies also have economic benefits for society.

Introduction

While the term ‘thermal comfort’ is used to cover a variety of circumstances, the World Health Organization's guidance on thermal comfort is not just about ensuring a sensation of satisfaction with the ambient temperature, it is inextricably linked to health. It is guidance for the home environment, and aimed at protecting health, particularly the health of those most susceptible and fragile to temperatures outside that range, such as the very young, and older people.

Guidance should not just be theoretical and aspirational. As well as being capable of being met, practical means of measuring and predicting that the guidance is satisfied are needed. Measuring air temperature may seem the obvious approach, but this is not always practical or reliable, so alternative methods have been developed. While not necessarily providing exact measurements of temperature, they give an indication of thermal comfort. But the limitations of these methods need to be recognised.

There is also a need for mechanisms to estimate where meeting the temperature range will be difficult or unlikely, and for identifying potentially susceptible occupiers. These mechanisms can help focus preventative and remedial strategies.

We review the evidence supporting the WHO guidance on thermal comfort, the means for measuring and predicting that it is being met, and some tools used to inform strategies.

Section snippets

Background

Thermal Comfort is influenced by a range of environmental and individual objective, and subjective factors. The environmental factors include the air temperature, the temperature of the surrounding surfaces, the air movement, the relative humidity, and the rate of air exchange (ventilation). Thermal comfort will also depend on the activity and the clothing worn by the individual, and the age, health status, gender, and the adaptation to the local environment and climate of the individual and

From guidance to measurement

As for all the factors influencing thermal comfort, indoor air temperature is subject to considerable variation. As well as differing depending on the time of day, there are vertical and horizontal temperature gradients within a room at any one time. And, within a dwelling, ambient temperatures will vary from room to room depending on their use and orientation. As well as the ambient temperature (and the other the factors mentioned) thermal comfort will be affected by heat sources and colder

Predicting thermal comfort

Assessing thermal comfort can be done by measuring perception or by measuring ambient air temperatures, but other approaches are necessary for designing buildings and for estimating the thermal satisfaction of occupants. One approach is founded on laboratory research protocols originally developed by Fanger (1970) where subjects in controlled conditions gave their verdict on different temperatures. The present standards recommended by the American Society for Heating, Refrigerating,

Using tools to inform strategies

The WHO guidance is directed to protecting health, particularly the health of the more susceptible members of the population. The methods for measuring thermal comfort are useful for surveys and studies, and predicting thermal comfort is important for informing designers of buildings. But what is also needed are practical tools to identify and prevent problems, and to inform and direct strategies.

Some methods are used for identifying potential problems associated with poor energy efficiency and

Strategies to protect health

In 2006, WHO Europe organised a meeting, the aims of which included reviewing housing-related strategies directed at preventing threats to health posed by energy inefficiency and Fuel Poverty (WHO, 2006). The meeting recognised the need for two approaches; one essential, but short-term, and the other long-term.

The short term strategies are those directed to ensuring occupiers can afford to obtain sufficient energy to maintain their homes at healthy and comfortable temperatures. These include

Conclusions and perspectives

The WHO guidance for air temperatures in the home are directed to protecting health, and in particular the health of those more susceptible to heat and/or cold. The guidance was based on evidence and has been supported by subsequent research. What is not clear is why there was a change from 15–25 °C in the WHO referenced documents from the late sixties to 18–24 °C in those published in the eighties, however, this latter range is supported by evidence and has been generally adopted as the thermal

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the very helpful comments and suggestions from the Editor and the Reviewers.

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