O objeto desta pesquisa é o desempenho térmico de edifícios residenciais na cidade de São Paulo, tendo em vista as mudanças climáticas previstas e a maior vulnerabilidade da população idosa. O objetivo é a avaliação de desempenho térmico e de conforto ambiental de edifícios residenciais no cenário RCP 8.5 do Quinto Relatório do IPCC - IPCC AR5 e durante a onda de calor ocorrida em janeiro e fevereiro de 2014. Este trabalho se utiliza de estudos de casos reais e de simulações computacionais. O método é indutivo, por meio de levantamentos de campo, e dedutivo, por meio de comparações entre os resultados das medições e das simulações computacionais; o trabalho apresenta, ao final, estudos preditivos do comportamento térmico e do conforto ambiental dos usuários nos edifícios estudados. Para tanto, foram levantadas e monitoradas seis residências de idosos voluntários, além de uma residência de controle, e foram realizadas simulações com o modelo EDSL/Bentley TAS (Thermal Analysis Software). Para a simulação computacional foram utilizados dados climáticos simulados e medidos. Os dados climáticos simulados foram tratados a partir de dados cedidos pelo Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas/IAG-USP representando os períodos presente (1975 a 2005), futuro próximo (2015 a 2044), futuro intermediário (2045 a 2074) e futuro distante (2076 a 2096). Os dados medidos foram os registrados pela estação meteorológica do IAG-USP, localizada na zona sul de São Paulo, para três períodos distintos: o ano de 2013, quando foram monitoradas as residências, o ano de 1972, selecionado como representativo do período de construção das residências estudadas, e também o ano de 2014, para fins de estudo dos efeitos da onda de calor ocorrida em janeiro e fevereiro desse mesmo ano. Os resultados foram analisados comparativamente entre os diferentes cenários climáticos e também entre as unidades habitacionais estudadas, adotando-se os índices de conforto adaptativo De Dear et al. (1997) / ASHRAE 55 (2013) e Humphreys et al. (2010), considerados os mais adequados para a avaliação térmica da operação em modo passivo no clima local, dentre os índices já existentes. As análises revelaram que, com a progressão dos cenários climáticos futuros, há tendência de alteração na condição de conforto dos usuários com aumento da sensação de calor e redução da sensação de frio, expressos aqui em número de horas e de graus-hora de desconforto. Além disso, sob a ocorrência de ondas de calor, o aumento abrupto e persistente da temperatura do ar tende a tornar as condições de desconforto térmico ainda mais acentuadas. Dentre todos os cenários estudados, e aplicando-se os dois modelos de conforto, foi encontrado um valor médio de aumento da condição de calor de 271%, variando de 83% a 694%, e uma redução média da condição de frio de 51%, variando de 24% a 70%. Os resultados mostram que a conjugação desses dois fenômenos, mudança climática e onda de calor, pode provocar um efeito potencializador para o desconforto térmico por calor, tornando as condições inóspitas para o conforto humano, além de implicar em maior consumo de energia para climatização artificial. / The subject of this research is the residential buildings performance in the city of São Paulo, taking into account the climate changes predicted for the next decades and the greater vulnerability of the elderly related to the environmental conditions. The aim is the evaluation of thermal performance and comfort in residential buildings under the RCP 8.5 scenario from the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report - IPCC AR5, as well as under the heat wave occurred in January and February 2014. This work is based on real case studies and computer simulations. The method is inductive, by field surveys, and deductive, though the comparison between measurements and computer simulation; finally, predictive studies of thermal performance and comfort are presented. For this purpose, six elderly dwellings, besides a control one, were surveyed and monitored, and computer simulations were carried out using EDLS/Bentley TAS (Thermal Analysis Software). For the computer simulations, simulated and measured climate data were employed. The simulated data were treated starting from data provided by the Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences/IAG-USP representing the periods present (1975 to2005), near future (2015 to 2044), intermediate future (2045 to 2074 and far future (2076 to 2096). Measured data were recorded by the IAG-USP meteorological station, located in southern São Paulo, for three different periods: 2013, when the residences were monitored; 1972, selected as representative of the buildings\' construction period, and also 2014, to study the January and February heat wave effects. Results were analyzed comparing comfort conditions in the different climate scenarios and also among the case studies, following the adaptive comfort indices De Dear et al. (1997) / ASHRAE 55 (2013) and Humphreys et al. (2010), which were considered the two most appropriate ones, among the existing indexes, for the passive mode operation in the local climate. Analysis revealed a tendency of change in comfort conditions throughout the progression of future climate scenarios, showing an increase in heat sensation and a decrease in cold sensation, which were expressed in number of hours and degree-hours of discomfort. Furthermore, in the occurrence of heat waves, the unexpected and persistent increase in air temperature tends to make thermal discomfort even more pronounced. Among all the studied scenarios, and applying both comfort models, in average, discomfort by heat increased 271%, ranging from 83% to 694%, and discomfort by cold decreased 51%, ranging from 24% to 70%. The results show that the combination of both phenomena, climate change and heat wave, may lead to a potential effect of heat discomfort, making thermal conditions inhospitable for human comfort, besides implying a higher energy consumption for air conditioning.

The thermal comfort approach, is straightly linked to society s quality of life expectation, that it s based on researches made inside climatized chambers and it s related to the thermal balance between the men and the environment. Among these studies, much has been questioned about the use of data obtained and represented on nomograms, in locations with different climatic characteristics which the study was made for. Therein, from an thermal evaluation made inside classrooms in Maceió/AL, this work was proposed to investigate the lower limit of the comfort zone to the hot and humid climate. The results were analysed based on the existing and common comfort zones used in the country. The work begins with an overview of the theme, then is presented the methodology, which describes and shows the used procedures to obtain and analyse analyze the data. The conclusion of the study shows that the percentage of users satisfied with the thermal environment to which they were submitted, was about 60%, higher than the percentage of dissatisfied users through the entire period analysed. However, the comfort resultant polygon obtained by the colleted data, based on the lower limit of comfort, differs from some comfort zones existing, being its minimal temperature about 21ºC. The differences among existing tolerances to air temperature, moisture, air movement, etc, may be an indicative of the adaptation of people to the climate, which suggests, therefore, the necessity of specifying the different comfort zones to each location. / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O estudo do conforto térmico, diretamente ligado à expectativa de qualidade de vida da sociedade, está baseado em pesquisas realizadas em câmaras climatizadas e relacionado ao balanço térmico entre o homem e o ambiente. Dentre esses estudos, muito tem sido questionado quanto à utilização dos dados obtidos e representados em nomogramas, em localidades com características climáticas diferente da qual o estudo foi direcionado. Neste sentido, a partir de uma avaliação realizada em ambientes de salas de aula em Maceió/AL, esse trabalho buscou investigar o limite inferior da zona de conforto para o clima quente e úmido. Os resultados obtidos foram analisados com base nas zonas de conforto existentes e utilizadas no país. O trabalho inicia-se com uma visão geral sobre o tema e segue com a apresentação da metodologia, na qual são descritos e apresentados os procedimentos utilizados para a coleta e análise de dados. A conclusão do estudo feito demonstrou que o percentual de usuários satisfeitos com o ambiente ao qual estavam submetidos, foi de aproximadamente 60%, maior que o percentual de insatisfeitos em praticamente todo o período analisado. No entanto, o polígono de conforto resultante dos dados coletados com base no limite inferior de conforto, difere de algumas zonas de conforto existentes, tendo sua temperatura mínima de 21°C. As diferenças existentes entre tolerâncias para temperatura, umidade, movimento do ar, etc, podem ser um indicativo da adaptação das pessoas ao clima, sugerindo, portanto, a necessidade de se especificar as zonas de conforto diferenciadas para cada região.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Natural ventilation is recognized by the scientific community as an important strategy for the promotion of thermal comfort. It s application in real situations, however, is extremely low, which is believed to be due to the lack of specific information as well as the lack of reliability in the success of these strategies. The present study aimed to propose, measure and evaluate natural ventilation strategy. It was defined the ventilation through the chimney effect for multiple floors educational buildings, disregarding the wind incidence, in the city of Santa Maria, RS, Bioclimatic Zone 2. Eight sizes of frames combinations have been proposed to be analyzed. Simulations with all openings combinations were made through DesignBuilder software. Based on the simulations results, it was calculated the maximum possible wind speeds through the strategy. Obtained such values, it was possible to analyze the thermal comfort gains with the different combinations of frames. It sets up, as the most suitable design and better performance, the use of all the frames in the same size, this being equivalent to 5,71% of the floor area. Analyzing through adaptive comfort, such configuration has resulted in reduction of degree-hour of discomfort in 27,9%, 33,3%, 38,8% and 42.7% for one floor, two floors, three floors and four floors building, respectively, comparing to the building without the use of the strategy. Since the results for the analyzed situation, compared to the recommended values by normatives for thermal confort condition, the strategy is evaluate as good potential and easily aplication in real situations. / A ventilação natural é reconhecida pela comunidade científica como uma importante estratégia para a promoção do conforto térmico. Sua aplicação em situações reais, no entanto, ainda é extremamente baixa, o que se acredita ser devido à falta de informação específica bem como à falta de credibilidade no sucesso de tais estratégias. Assim, o presente trabalho objetivou propor, dimensionar e avaliar estratégia de ventilação natural. Definiu-se a ventilação através do efeito chaminé para edificações de ensino de múltiplos pavimentos, desconsiderando-se a incidência de vento, para a cidade de Santa Maria, RS, Zona Bioclimática 2. Foram propostas 8 combinações de tamanhos de esquadrias a serem analisadas. Através do software DesignBuilder foram realizadas simulações com todas as combinações de aberturas pré-determinadas. Frente aos resultados das simulações foram calculadas as máximas velocidades de vento possíveis através da estratégia. Obtidos tais valores analisaram-se os ganhos obtidos em conforto térmico frente às diferentes combinações de esquadrias. Definiu-se, enquanto dimensionamento mais adequado e de melhor desempenho, o uso de todas as esquadrias de mesmo tamanho, sendo este equivalente a 5,71% da área de piso. Analisando-se via conforto adaptativo, tal configuração resultou em redução dos graus-hora de desconforto em 27,9%, 33,3%, 38,8% e 42,7% para as situações térrea, 2 pavimentos, 3 pavimentos e 4 pavimentos, respectivamente, comparando-se à edificação sem o uso da estratégia. Visto os resultados obtidos para a situação analisada, frente aos valores recomendados por normativas para condição de conforto térmico, avaliase a estratégia como de bom potencial e fácil aplicabilidade em situações reais.

Nas primeiras décadas do século XX, profissionais da área da saúde investiram em ambientes funcionais de trabalho, dando ênfase à implantação de equipamentos de alta tecnologia, sem se preocuparem com o grau de conforto proporcionado pelo ambiente físico. Trabalhos científicos nesta área classificaram esses espaços como estressantes e inadequados em razão de não observarem as carências emocionais e psicológicas dos usuários. O presente estudo avaliou a melhoria do conforto humano na Irmandade Santa Casa de Valinhos/SP-Brasil, proporcionado pela requalificação de áreas verdes existentes entre as alas de internação. Para avaliar o grau de conforto térmico proporcionado por essas áreas verdes requalificadas, utilizaram-se dois modelos preditivos de conforto: o Predicted Mean Vote - PMV (FANGER, 1970) e o Predicted Percentage of Disatisfied - PPD baseado na ISO 7730 (1994) para ambientes internos. A fim de se compararem os resultados obtidos com base nos modelos preditivos à percepção subjetiva do conforto térmico dos entrevistados, foram aplicados questionários contendo questões abertas e fechadas que possibilitaram uma análise dos benefícios terapêuticos proporcionados pelas áreas verdes requalificadas. Outro instrumento utilizado, o Inventário de Sintomas de Stress de LIPP, avaliou e comparou o nível de stress entre dois grupos de funcionários (com contato e sem contato com áreas verdes). Os resultados deste estudo demonstram que os espaços verdes requalificados, apesar de ainda não interferirem no grau de conforto térmico dos ambientes a eles adjacentes, cumprem um papel terapêutico na medida em que promovem maior bem-estar a todos que deles se usufruem. / In the first decades of the twentieth century, health professionals have invested into functional work environments, emphasizing the insertion of high-tech equipment and not concerned about the comfort provided by the physical environment. Scientific work in this area ranked these spaces as stressful and inappropriate in order not to observe the emotional and psychological necessities the users have. This study has evaluated the improvement of human comfort in Santa Casa de Valinhos / SP-Brazil, provided by the recovery of green areas between the internment wards at the hospital. To evaluate the thermal comfort degree provided by these recovered green areas, we have used two predictive comfort models: Predicted Mean Vote - PMV (FANGER, 1970) and Predicted Percentage of Disatisfied - PPD based on ISO 7730 (1994) for indoor environments. In order to compare the results based on predictive models to the subjective perception of the thermal comfort, questionnaires have been applied with open and closed questions which have allowed an analysis of therapeutic benefits provided by the recovered green areas. The other instrument used was Lipp Stress Symptom Inventory, which evaluated and compared the level of stress among two staff groups (with or without contact to the green areas). The results of this study have demonstrated that the recovered green spaces, while not influencing the thermal comfort degree of adjacent environments, which has a therapeutic role while promoting a greater well-being to all who enjoy them.

O Colégio de Aplicação Pedagógica da Universidade Estadual de Maringá (CAP/UEM) fazia parte de um projeto de âmbito nacional criado na década de 1990, os Centros de Atenção Integral à Criança e ao Adolescente - CAIC´s. O projeto inicial é de autoria do arquiteto João Filgueiras Lima, Lelé, reconhecido pela preocupação com o conforto ambiental dos usuários em suas obras. Em geral, sabe-se que os alunos têm uma melhor qualidade no aprendizado quando os espaços estão bem ventilados, iluminados e silenciosos. Sendo assim, este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar o conforto térmico no edifício do CAP/UEM verificando o desempenho das estratégias passivas para proporcionar conforto térmico, a sensação térmica dos usuários e aferindo o desempenho de uma estratégia, sugerida pelo arquiteto Lelé em entrevista a autora, para melhoria do comportamento térmico da cobertura. A metodologia proposta consiste, inicialmente, em um levantamento de dados que se destaca pela entrevista com o arquiteto. Após, foi feita uma análise projetual para a identificação e caracterização das soluções passivas de conforto e a verificação do funcionamento destas no âmbito de projeto. Para verificar a eficiência destas estratégias foi aplicado o método dos Votos Médios Preditos (PMV), que envolve medições das variáveis ambientais concomitantemente com aplicação de questionários aos alunos no período de verão. Além disso, ainda foi avaliado o desempenho térmico da cobertura, através de medições de temperaturas superficiais internas e externas comparadas entre três salas de aula: uma inalterada, outra lavada e a terceira, lavada e pintada de branco, sugestão do arquiteto Lelé para melhorar o desempenho térmico do edifício. Os resultados indicaram que a cobertura do prédio ocasiona grande ganho térmico e insatisfação dos usuários praticamente o tempo todo, prejudicando as condições de conforto no interior do edifício. Esse alto grau de desconforto pode ser explicado pela falta de manutenção e a pouca inércia térmica do sistema, principalmente da cobertura. A pintura do telhado de branco se mostrou eficiente para diminuir o calor que entra pela cobertura, ressaltando a importância da temperatura radiante para promoção das condições de conforto térmico nas salas de aula. / The Pedagogical College of the State University of Maringá (CAP/UEM) was part of a nationwide project created in the 1990s, the Centres for the Integral Care to Children and Adolescents - CAIC\'s. The initial design was concived by the architect João Filgueiras Lima (a.k.a. Lelé), acknowledged for his concern for the environmental comfort of users in his work. In general, it is known that the students have a better quality of learning when the spaces are well chilled, lighted and quiet. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the thermal comfort in the building of the CAP/UEM checking the performance of passive strategies of thermal comfort, thermal sensation of users and verifying the performance of a strategy, suggested by the architect Lelé in an interview for the author, to improve the thermal performance of the roof. The proposed methodology consists, initially, in a collection of the datas that stands out from the interview with the architect. Afterwards, it was made an analysis projectual in order to identify passive solutions to obtain thermal comfort, at the same time, to verify the work system of this project. To check the efficiency of these strategies it was apllied the Predicted Mean Vote Method (PMV), that envolve measurements of environmental variables concurrently with questionnaires applied to students during the summer time. Futher there, it was analized the thermal performance of the roof, throught out indoor and outdoor superficial temperature measurements, compared between three classrooms: one untouchable, another washed and the third one washed and white painted, suggested by the architect Lelé to improve thermal comfort of the building. The results indicate that the roof of the building causes huge thermal gain and unsatisfaction of the users all the time, damaging the comfort conditions within the building. This high level of uncomfortable can be explained by the lack of maintenance and the low thermal inertia of the system, especially the roof. The white paint of the roof has shown efficient to reduce the heating coming throughout the roof, highlighting the importance of radiant temperature for promotion of thermal comfort conditions in classrooms.

Till följd av det ökade allmänna intresset för hållbar utveckling har organisationers upprättande av hållbarhetsrapporter ökat. Samtidigt har tidigare forskning visat att hållbarhetsrapporter präglats av felaktig information i syfte att verka som ett skyltfönster. Därmed finns ett intresse för intressenter att en oberoende part granskar och säkerställer att organisationers hållbarhetsrapporter och miljöarbete överensstämmer. För att skapa legitimitet finns det en möjlighet för organisationer att certifiera sitt miljöarbete och miljöledningssystem enligt den internationella standarden ISO 14001 i syfte att påvisa att organisationens miljöarbete lever upp till standardens krav. Certifieringen inkluderar bland annat en revision utförd av oberoende revisorer. Tidigare forskning har påvisat att sannolikheten för att organisationer certifierar sig enligt ISO 14001 ökar när miljöarbetet är av en symbolisk karaktär. Tidigare forskning har även påvisat att revisorers arbetssätt inte är rationellt i lika stor utsträckning som tidigare antagits. Istället gör de känslomässiga och subjektiva bedömningar, detta tillsammans med fler delar benämns som revisorers komfort.  Syftet med studien är att undersöka om samt hur revisorer uppnår komfort i revisionsprocessen gällande certifiering av ISO 14001. För att besvara studiens forskningsfrågor genomfördes en kvalitativ studie med tio semistrukturerade intervjuer där respondenterna var revisorer vilka utför ISO 14001 certifieringsrevisioner. Studien visar att ISO 14001 revisorer uppnår komfort, dock skiljer sig processen till att uppnå komfort från vad tidigare forskning konstaterat om finansiella revisorer. Fortsatt visar studien att det går att urskilja två idealtyper av ISO 14001 revisorer där uppbyggnaden av komfort särskiljer sig mellan diverse typ. Vidare framkommer det att båda idealtyper kan uppnå komfort genom enbart praktisk kompetens alternativt genom praktisk kompetens kombinerat med defensiva strategier. / Due to the public interest in sustainable development increases organizations establishment of sustainability reports have increased. At the same time it has been shown that sustainability reports are characterized by incorrect information in order to act as a display window. Hence, there is in stakeholders interest that an independent part reviews and ensures that organizations sustainability reports and environmental work are consistent. For organizations to create legitimacy for their environmental work they have the opportunity to certify their environmental management system in accordance with the international standard, ISO 14001. This in order to demonstrate that the organizations environmental work meets the requirements in the standard. The certification includes, among other things, an audit performed by independent auditors. Former studies have shown that the probability of organizations certifying their environmental management system according to ISO 14001 increases when the environmental work is more of a symbolic nature. Moreover former studies has shown that the auditors working process is not rational to the same extent as previously assumed. Instead they make emotional and subjective assessments, this together with more parts is referred to as auditors comfort.  The purpose of the study is to investigate if and how auditors achieve comfort in the audit process regarding certification of ISO 14001. In order to answer the study’s research questions, ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with respondents consisting of auditors who perform ISO 14001 certification audits. The study shows that ISO 14001 auditors achieve comfort, however the process of achieving comfort deviate from what former studies has stated about financial auditors. Furthermore, the study show that it is possible to distinguish two ideal types of ISO 14001 auditors where the structure of comfort differs between various types. Moreover, it appears that both ideal types can achieve comfort through only practical competence or through practical competence combined with defensive strategies.

In the residential and commercial buildings, most of the energy is used to provide the thermal comfort environment to the occupants. The recent research towards Green Buildings is focusing on reduction of energy consumption by air-conditioners and fans used for producing the thermal comfort environment. The thermal comfort is defined as the condition of mind which expresses human satisfaction with the thermal environment. The human body is continuously producing metabolic heat and it should be maintained within the narrow range of core temperature. The heat generated inside the body should be lost to the environment to maintain the thermal equilibrium with each other. The heat loss from the body is taking place in different modes such as conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation through the skin and respiration. These heat losses are influenced by the environmental factors (air temperature, air velocity, relative humidity and mean radiant temperature), physiological factors (activity level, posture and sweat rate) and clothing factors (thermal insulation value, evaporative resistance and microenvironment volume). When the body is in thermally equilibrium with its surrounding environment, the heat production should be equal to heat loss to maintain the thermal comfort. The level of thermal comfort can be measured by the different indices which combine many parameters. Of these, the Fanger’s PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) – PPD (Percentage of People Dissatisfied) index was universally suggested by ASHRAE and ISO. The PMV – PPD index was derived based on the experiment conducted on acclimated European and American subjects. Many researchers have criticized that the PMV – PPD index is not valid for tropical regions and some researchers have well agreed with this index for the same region. The validation of PMV – PPD index for thermal comfort Indians has not yet been examined. The validation of PMV – PPD index can be done by the human heat balance experiment and the individual heat losses have to be calculated from the measured parameters. In the human heat balance, the convective heat transfer plays the major role when the air movement exists around the human body. The convective heat loss is dependent on the convective heat transfer coefficient which is the function of the driving force of the convection. Using Computational Fluid Dynamics techniques, an attempt has been made in this work to determine the convective heat transfer coefficient of the human body at standing posture in natural convection. The CFD technique has been used to analyze the heat and fluid flow around the human body as follows: The anthropometric digital human manikin was modeled in GAMBIT with a test room. This model was meshed by tetrahedral elements and exported to FLUENT software to perform the analysis. The simulation was done at different ambient temperatures (16 oC to 32 oC with increment of 2 oC). The Boussinesq approximation was used to simulate the natural convection and the Surface to Surface model was used to simulate the radiation. The surrounding wall temperature was assigned equal to the ambient temperature. The sum of convective and radiative heat losses calculated based on the ASHRAE model was set as heat flux from the manikin’s surface. From the simulation, the local skin temperatures have been taken, and the temperature and velocity distributions analyzed. The result shows that the skin temperature is increasing with an increase in ambient temperature and the thickness of the hydrodynamic and thermodynamic boundary layers is increasing with height of the manikin. From the Nusselt number analogy, the convective heat transfer coefficients of the individual manikin’s segments have been calculated and the relation with respect to the temperature differences has been derived by the regression analysis. The relation obtained for the convective heat transfer coefficient has been validated with previous experimental results cited in literature for the same conditions. The result shows that the present relation agrees well with the previous experimental relations. The characteristics of the human thermal plume have been studied and the velocity of this plume is found to increase with the ambient temperature. Using the Grashof number, the flow around the human manikin has been examined and it is observed to be laminar up to abdomen level and turbulent from shoulder level. In between these two levels, the flow is found to be in transition. The validation of PMV model for tropical countries, especially for Indians, was done by heat balance experiment on Indian subjects. The experiment was conducted on forty male subjects at different ambient temperatures in a closed room in which low air movement exists. The local skin temperature, relative humidity, air velocity and globe temperature were measured. The sensation vote was received from all the subjects at all the conditions. The convective heat loss was calculated from its coefficient obtained from the present computational simulation. The radiation heat loss was calculated for two cases: In case one, the mean radiant temperature was taken equal to the ambient temperature and in case two, the mean radiant temperature was calculated from the globe temperature. The other heat losses were calculated from the basic formulae and the relations given by ASHRAE based on Fanger’s assumption. From these calculations, the validity of the Fanger’s assumption was examined. The collected sensation votes and the calculated PMV were compared to validate the PMV – PPD index for Indians. The experimental results show that there was much variation in the calculated comfort level using the measured parameters and the Fanger’s assumption. For the case of mean radiant temperature equal to the ambient temperature for indoor condition, the comfort level was varying more than the actual. In addition, the calculated comfort level from the globe temperature agreed well with the comfort level from the collected sensation votes. So it was concluded that the ASHRAE model is valid for Indians if the radiation was measured exactly. Using the ASHRAE model, the required wall emissivity of the surrounding wall at different ambient temperatures was determined from the CFD simulation. In the ASHRAE model, the surrounding wall emissivity plays the major role in the radiative heat loss from the human body. Hence in recent years, research on low emissive wall paints is focused. The computational study was done to determine the required wall emissivity to obtain the thermal comfort of the occupant at low energy consumption. The simulation was done with the different ambient temperatures (16 oC to 40 oC with increment of 4 oC) with the different surrounding wall emissivity (0.0 to 1.0 with increment of 0.2). From this simulation, the change in mean skin temperature with respect to wall emissivity was obtained for all ambient temperature conditions. The required mean skin temperature for a particular activity level was compared with the simulation results and from that, the required wall emissivity at the different ambient conditions was determined. If the surrounding walls are having the required emissivity, it leads to decrease in heat/cold strain on the human body, and the thermal comfort can be obtained with low energy consumption.(please note that title in the CD is given as COMPUTATION OF REQUIRED WALL EMISSIVITY FOR LOW ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN BUILDINGS USING ASHRAE MODEL VALIDATED FOR INDIAN THERMAL COMFORT)

Diplomová práce je zaměřena na měření ventilovaného sedadla s ohledem na tepelný komfort člověka. Popisuje a shrnuje tepelný přenos lidského těla s okolím a termoregulaci člověka. Dále zachycuje a zhodnocuje vybrané přístupy hodnocení tepelného komfortu. Zabývá se komplexním přehledem tepelně komfortních jednotek v automobilu. Představuje použitou metodu měření tepelného komfortu u ventilovaného sedadla, načež analyzuje a vyhodnocuje jednotlivá získaná data.

Em espaços urbanos abertos, particularmente nas grandes cidades de climas tropicais, os pedestres estão expostos não somente a níveis sonoros elevados como também a elevadas cargas térmicas, situação que pode gerar tanto o desconforto acústico quanto o térmico. Entretanto, na maioria das vezes, a relação entre a exposição a condições acústicas e térmicas adversas e a percepção humana dessas condições são estudadas separadamente. Neste trabalho propõe-se, portanto, uma abordagem integrada para a avaliação do conforto acústico e térmico urbano e para o estudo de seus prováveis efeitos combinados. Esta pesquisa foi realizada em Belo Horizonte - MG, Brasil, cidade localizada em região de clima tropical de altitude, com verões quentes e úmidos e invernos frios e secos. Utilizou-se o método indutivo experimental na condução dos trabalhos. Dados acústicos e climáticos foram medidos simultaneamente à aplicação de formulários em dois dias representativos do verão (março/2013) e do inverno (agosto/2013), e em duas praças contrastantes em relação ao seu ambiente acústico e térmico bem como aos seus parâmetros morfológicos como o fator de visão do céu, o altura dos edifícios, o tipo de pavimento, a presença de fontes de água e vegetação. Os índices Nível de Pressão Sonora Equivalente Contínuo, ponderado na curva A (LAeq) e Temperatura Equivalente Fisiológica (PET) foram usados para representar, respectivamente, as condições acústicas e microclimáticas. Foram coletados por meio dos formulários variáveis subjetivas (percepção do volume do ambiente sonoro, avaliação de incômodo relacionado ao ambiente sonoro, avaliação de conforto acústico, percepção de sensações térmicas, preferência de sensações térmicas e avaliação de conforto térmico), variáveis individuais (vestimenta, atividade física, idade, peso, altura, sexo) e dadoscontrole, relacionados aos aspectos psicológicos, sociais e culturais que podem interferir na percepção acústica e térmica do ambiente. A amostra compreendeu aproximadamente 1.700 entrevistados. O tratamento estatístico dos dados coletados abarcou análise descritiva, correlações e regressões. Modelos de regressão logística ordinal foram utilizados para predizer as faixas de percepção acústica e térmica; e modelos de regressão logística, para predizer as faixas de conforto e desconforto acústico e térmico. Os resultados do estudo incluem, dentre outros: 1) a calibração do índice LAeq para percepção do volume sonoro - faixas: \"Baixo\", <35dB(A), \"Normal\", de 36 a 67dB(A), e \"Alto\", >68dB(A); e para avaliação de conforto acústico - faixas: \"Confortável\", <67dB(A), e \"Desconfortável\", >68dB(A); 2) a calibração do índice PET para percepção de sensações térmicas - faixas: \"Frio\", <18,9°C, \"Bem\", de 19 a 27°C, e \"Calor\", >27,1; e para avaliação de conforto térmico - faixas: \"Confortável\", de 23 a 31°C, e \"Desconfortável\", <22,9 e >31,1°C; 3) a definição das temperaturas neutra e preferida para verão (27,7 e 14,9°C) e inverno (15,9°C e 20,9°C), respectivamente, demonstrando a influência da expectativa na avaliação das condições térmicas; e 4) a comprovação de que o aumento do desconforto acústico pode acarretar (ainda que em pequena escala) o aumento do desconforto térmico e vice-versa. Estes resultados podem nortear o esclarecimento de questões referentes à percepção e ao conforto acústico e térmico em espaços urbanos, orientando as políticas públicas em projetos urbanísticos relacionados a esses temas. / In urban open public spaces, particularly in big cities of tropical climate, city-users are often exposed not only to high sound levels but also to high thermal loads, a situation that can cause both acoustic and thermal discomfort. Nevertheless, in most cases, the relationship between the exposure to each of these adverse conditions and human perceptions towards each of them are studied separately. In order to address the lack of a combined analysis of these conditions, this research has adopted an integrated approach to evaluate urban acoustic and thermal comfort and their likely combined effects. This study was carried out in in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerais, a city located in a region of tropical of altitude climate, with hot wet summers and cold dry winters. Acoustic and climatic data were measured simultaneously with the administration of questionnaires in two representative days of summer (March/2013) and winter (August/2013), in two squares that noticeably differ in relation to their acoustic and thermal environment and their morphological parameters such as the sky view factor, the height of the buildings, the type of pavement, the presence of water sources and the vegetation. The LAeq,T and the PET index were used to represent acoustic and microclimatic conditions respectively. Subjective variables (perceived volume of the environmental sound, assessment of annoyance caused by environmental sound, acoustic comfort evaluation, perception of thermal sensation, thermal sensation preference and evaluation of thermal comfort), personal variables (clothing, physical activity, age, weight, height, gender) and control data related to psychological, social and cultural issues that might interfere with acoustic and thermal perception of the environment were collected through the questionnaires. The sample consisted of approximately 1,700 respondents. The statistical treatment of the data collected was comprised of descriptive analysis as well as analysis using correlations and regressions. Ordinal logistic regression models were used to predict the ranges of acoustic and thermal perception and logistic regression models were used to predict the ranges of acoustic and thermal comfort and discomfort. Some of the results of this study are: 1) the calibration of the LAeq index for perceived loudness - ranges: \"Low\", <35dB(A), \"Normal\", between 36 and 67dB(A), and \"High\", >68dB(A); and for evaluation of acoustic comfort - ranges: \"Comfortable\" <67dB(A), and \"Uncomfortable\", >68dB(A); 2) the calibration of the PET index for perceived thermal sensations - ranges, \"Cold\", <18.9°C, \"Well\", 19-27°C, and \"Hot\", >27.1°C; and for evaluation of thermal comfort - ranges: \"Comfortable\", 23-31°C, and \"Uncomfortable\", <22.9 and >31.1°C; 3) the definition of neutral and preferred temperatures for Summer (27.7 and 14.9°C) and Winter (15.9°C and 20.9°C), respectively, showing the influence of expectation on evaluation of thermal conditions; and 4) the confirmation that an increase of the acoustic discomfort may cause (albeit on a small scale) an increase in the thermal discomfort and vice versa. These results might shed light on the issues of acoustic and thermal perception and comfort in urban spaces, helping to guide public policies on urban projects related to these topics.

Desde a introdução do conceito de escritório aberto, o tipo de ocupação e a distribuição das cargas internas têm sofrido grandes mudanças, requerendo maior flexibilidade nos edifícios. Além disto, avaliações de desempenho de edifícios de escritórios da atualidade têm apresentado resultados que são fortes indicadores da necessidade de mudanças de conceitos de projeto, operação e uso de sistemas de condicionamento de ar, devido ao elevado nível de insatisfação dos usuários quanto ao conforto e à qualidade do ar. Para tentar solucionar estes problemas, outro conceito em distribuição de ar, já em uso nos países desenvolvidos, está começando a ser adotado também no Brasil; trata-se de insuflamento pelo piso, com difusores instalados em placas de piso elevado e nas estações de trabalho, que permitem flexibilidade e controle individual de vazão de ar. Neste trabalho foi feita a avaliação de sistema de condicionamento de ar com insuflamento pelo piso em um laboratório com condições controladas. O laboratório em que foram realizados os ensaios foi projetado e instalado com características similares àquelas de ambientes reais de edifícios de escritórios. Este fato, aliado à participação de usuários no processo de avaliação das condições de conforto térmico, tornaram possível a definição de parâmetros para a elaboração de projetos bem como para o estabelecimento de um modo eficaz de operação do sistema. O processo de avaliação das condições de conforto térmico no ambiente envolveu três etapas. Inicialmente, foram feitas medições das variáveis de conforto térmico no ambiente e de variáveis do sistema utilizando simuladores. Posteriormente, foi realizada a avaliação subjetiva do conforto térmico, com a substituição dos simuladores por pessoas no ambiente (usuários), nas mesmas condições da etapa anterior. Finalmente, foram feitas as medições das variáveis de conforto nas zonas de ocupação – micro climas – na condição de condicionamento individualizado, promovido por ajustes de vazão de ar e direcionamento do fluxo pelos usuários. Os resultados da avaliação permitem concluir que o sistema de condicionamento de ar com insuflamento pelo piso atende às expectativas para promover conforto térmico aos usuários de edifícios de escritórios com potencial de conservação de energia. / Since the introduction of the landscape office concept, the layout type and the internal loads distribution have changed significantly, requesting larger flexibility in the buildings. Besides, building performance evaluation applied to contemporary office buildings has shown that for most such buildings thermal comfort and air quality users level satisfaction is low. These facts are indicating that project concepts, operation and use of air conditioning systems need to be changed. In order to solve these problems, underfloor air supply is becoming a common practice also in Brazil. This system with floor and workstation diffusers allows flexibility and an individualized airflow control. In this work the evaluation of the underfloor air conditioning system was carried out in a laboratory facility with controlled conditions. The laboratory was designed and built up with similar characteristics to those of actual office buildings environments. This fact and the participation of users in the process of thermal comfort evaluation, made possible the definition of design parameters as well as the establishment of the system operation conditions in an effective way. The evaluation of the environment thermal comfort conditions was accomplished in three stages. Initially, measurements of thermal comfort and system variables were made using simulators. Later, in the same conditions of the previous stage, users (a sample of people) have evaluated, in a subjective way, the environment thermal comfort. Finally, measurements of the comfort variables were accomplished in the occupation areas - microclimates - in the condition of individualized conditioning, promoted by air flow adjustments and flow direction by the users. The results of the evaluation allow to conclude that the underfloor air conditioning system satisfies to the expectations to promote thermal comfort to the office building users with potential of energy conservation.