Cold comfort: thermal sensation in people over 65 and the consequences for an ageing population

Abstract

In Australia the preference of most of the ageing population is to age in place. It is therefore necessary that the thermal environment in homes provides comfort for its occupants to promote healthy ageing. Houses that are too hot or too cold are not only unpleasant to live in but may pose a health risk, especially amongst a vulnerable population. The study reported in this paper is part of larger research into the thermal practices of people over 65 in Adelaide, South Australia. The aim of this study was to examine the thermal comfort of people over the age of 65 during the coldest winter month as well as during a record breaking hot summer month in 2015. A longitudinal comfort study of both living areas and bedrooms was conducted in 10 South Australian households during these periods. The comfort vote survey included the ASHRAE 7-point sensation scale and the McIntyre 3-point preference scale. Preliminary data indicate these occupants find thermal conditions comfortable at cooler temperatures than predicted by the ASHRAE thermal comfort standard, with significant numbers of neutral votes occurring at lower temperatures than expected. During the warmer conditions however, the majority of neutral votes were in the region predicted by the model. This research presents a unique perspective of household thermal comfort in older people during two extremes in temperature conditions in Adelaide. This may have implications for healthy housing design for an ageing population.