Study on the elderly's perception of microclimate and activity time in residential communities

The significance of outdoor environment is increasingly being recognized, particularly for the elderly. Using residential community green spaces is beneficial for their physical and mental health. This study aims to explore the thermal comfort, usage patterns, and microclimate preferences of the elderly through environmental factors and demographic information. Field measurements and questionnaire surveys were conducted across 19 residential communities in 3 cities within Building Climate Zone II in China during the summer. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were employed to examine various factors related to the elderly's thermal comfort, duration of activity, and microclimate preferences. The study revealed that elderly residents in communities of various types experience different thermal comfort levels and have different durations of activity and preferences for microclimates. In addition, elderly adults with longer activity durations are less likely to prefer windless, drier, and more sunlight environments in the summer. Built environmental factors, personal factors, and features of public facilities were also found to have an impact on thermal comfort and activity. These empirical findings provide urban planners with insights to better cater to the needs of the elderly in residential area design, emphasizing the importance of considering thermal comfort and microclimate preferences in the planning process.