Air conditioner operation behaviour based on students' skin temperature in a classroom

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Human Physiology
• Building Science

Background:

• Classroom thermal comfort is crucial for student well-being and academic performance.
• Understanding student preferences for temperature regulation is essential for optimizing learning environments.
• Previous research often focuses on constant temperature conditions, neglecting dynamic thermal preferences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate college students' air conditioner usage patterns in a university classroom.
• To assess the impact of fluctuating versus constant temperature conditions on student thermal comfort and skin temperature.
• To determine if environmental variability affects classroom study performance.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-five college students were monitored in a university classroom.
• Ambient temperature, relative humidity, and skin temperatures were recorded continuously.
• Clothing insulation (CLO) and air velocity were measured.
• Student preferences for air conditioner use were observed.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in ambient temperature and mean skin temperature were observed between air conditioner on/off states.
• Core body part skin temperatures showed no significant change, but extremities did.
• Students demonstrated a preference for a fluctuating thermal environment over a constant one.

Conclusions:

• A dynamic thermal environment, characterized by temperature fluctuations, is preferred by college students.
• Environmental variability, within the tested range, does not negatively affect classroom study.
• Findings suggest that flexible temperature control systems may enhance student comfort without compromising academic outcomes.