The Comforts of Home
We humans like our dwellings to be comfortable. We put ourselves inside these structures and begin creating our own unique living situation. We have learned to install machines, technology, and features that keep us in some kind of balance. When the weather outside is not conducive to comfort, we take that in hand and change conditions with our knowledge.
In this chapter of “This Old House, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning,” the authors explain the factors involved in the creation of a living space that is comfortable. It is explained that comfort is both personal and based on geographical location.
The primary factors involved in the establishment of a comfortable environment include
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Thermal Comfort: There are six factors that influence thermal comfort. Those are air temperature, air velocity, relative humidity, radiant environment, activity level, and clothes worn.
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Relative Humidity: The level of humidity in the air of a home can impact the set point desired.
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Radiant Environment:All of the objects in a home contain heat. This heat can impact the degree to which people feel comfortable.
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Personal Factors-Activity level of occupants, dress, air quality, noise, light, peace of mind.
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Whole House Approach: The homeowner is encouraged to take into consideration the entire living structure as opposed to just trying to impact the temperature of a certain area.
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