Comparison of indoor thermal environments and human thermal responses in Northern and Southern China during winter

Human thermal adaptability has a significant impact on energy savings and emission reduction in buildings. To investigate the effect of long-term thermal history on thermal adaptability, this study explored the characteristics of indoor thermal environments and the differences in human thermal responses during winter in northern and southern China. Furthermore, the effects of the region (heating patterns), building types and payment patterns on the thermal responses were clarified. Finally, the thermal neutral temperatures and 80 % thermal acceptable ranges were determined. The results indicate that there are significant differences in the indoor thermal environments and human thermal responses in different types of buildings during winter (P < 0.00). However, the effect size of the thermal responses (d ≥ 0.3) is lower than that of the environmental parameters (d ≥ 0.7). This demonstrates that individuals have strong thermal adaptability. Due to the higher indoor air temperature of district heating in northern China, the northerners have a higher thermal neutral temperature and lower clothing insulation. They are stricter in the requirements for room temperature and weaker in thermal adaptability. Nevertheless, the southerners can actively adapt to lower indoor temperatures by clothing adjustments, with a wider acceptable range of indoor temperatures and lower thermal neutral temperatures. Charging for the actual heating usage can lower the thermal neutral temperature and boost the thermal satisfaction rate, which is conducive to saving energy and reducing emissions. Thus, these findings can contribute to the promotion of the comfortable and sustainable development of built environments.