A Mechanism for Individual

Thermal Comfort in Auditoriums

ABSTRACT

Indoor temperature settings are often a source of discontent among individuals particularly when those individuals feel themselves at the mercy of a centrally-controlled ventilation system. Personalized climate control devices are an innovative solution designed specifically to give individuals the freedom to condition and control their own immediate micro-environment. They often integrate heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting controls along with other environmental features into a self-contained unit small enough to service an individuals work area. These types of devices have existed for some years and are known by such names as: task conditioning systems[1], environmentally responsive workstations[2], personal environments module[3], microclimate control systems[4], etc. These systems have been introduced into work environments in response to research indicating a correlation between thermal comfort and an individuals well-being, alertness, and performance. These systems are a method of providing thermal comfort directly to individual occupants of a space as opposed to central systems that provide comfort for only 80% of occupants. This paper investigates the possibility of applying personalized climate control in auditoriums and similar assembly spaces. In an auditorium setting, an audience member whose intellectual and perceptual stimulation is heightened may gain more from the artistic performance and be more likely to return to future events. This line of reasoning suggests that when an audience member experiences an acceptable thermal environment, the improved likelihood of their return could lead to an increase in ticket sales. An additional consideration is that attendees of theatrical and musical events must conform to certain rules of etiquette that make it more difficult than usual to adapt to uncomfortable environmental conditions. Research has uncovered a long history of devices invented for the purpose of improving the thermal environment of people seated in auditoriums and assembly halls. A future mechanism for improving thermal comfort in such spaces must combine the following conventional tactics: individually controlled ventilation with separate direction and volume functions, radiant heat, illumination, and occupancy sensors at each seat. Various design strategies are proposed. The inclusion of microclimate systems has the potential to revolutionize auditorium design by bringing the state-of-the-art to each seated individual. This may one day lead to improvements much greater than those proposed. Only further research and development may tell.

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[1] Task conditioning systems term used to describe devices specially designed for personalized environment control. The term is also used by researchers at the Center for the Built Environment U.C. Berkeley.

[2] Environmentally responsive workstation integrates heating, lighting, cooling, and other environmental qualities into occupant workstations. Product development by the Center for Architectural Research, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

[3] Personal Environment Module Product marketed by Johnson Controls Company.

[4] Microclimate control systems term used by Dr. David Wyon.