Thermal Preference Methodology Information for Designers

Abstract

This paper examines a range of theoretical approaches to the provision of thermal preference information for designers. In a brief review of current human science approaches, the relative merits of field study and climate chamber research are discussed. These methodological approaches tend to make implicit assumptions about the type of information which is relevant to design, and, perhaps more importantly, about the type of information which is not relevant. If the topic is addressed from the point of view of design issues, rather than from a human-science perspective, more specific and applicable conclusions can be drawn. The paper discusses some design questions for housing in a warm temperate Australian climate, that of Adelaide.