Development of guidelines for enhancement of thermal comfort and energy efficiency during winter for Thailand’s senior centers using surveys and computer simulation

Abstract

The objective of this study is to develop guidelines for thermal comfort and energy efficiency for senior centers during winter. The study was conducted in Phitsanulok, Thailand and it applied 3 study’s methods; field survey, laboratory study, and simulation in scSTREAM–a CFD program and DOE-2 program; to develop the guidelines. With a temperature set-point at 25.0°C in the existing air-conditioned senior centers, the study shows that occupants feel "Slightly cool". These feeling can be adjusted to "Neutral" by applying natural ventilation and fans to generate air speed of 0.57–0.60 m/s during 8:00 AM–1:00 PM, and by setting the temperature set-point at 26.0°C with air speed of 0.10–0.26 m/s during 1:00 AM–4:00 PM. The guidelines can help reduce energy consumption by 23.0 % and can apply for senior centers.