The role of lobbies: short-term thermal transitions

ABSTRACT

Maintaining comfort levels while reducing energy demand in buildings in the face of climate change is a key challenge in temperate zones. Creating transitional spaces and thermal variation in buildings may offer a way forward. This paper is a study of seasonal short-term thermal transitions in the lobby areas of three higher education buildings in Sheffield, UK, involving 1749 participants, thermal comfort questionnaires and simultaneous climatic measurements. New patterns of thermal transitions were identified that significantly modified the seasonal subjects’ thermal perception, and their reactions to temperature changes. Results suggest that it could be possible to positively alter people’s thermal perception in the short- and long-term through the judicious use of lobby spaces. The use of transition zones would reduce the demand for air-conditioning and therefore reduce overall energy demand. This work also provides a reflection on the purpose of transitional spaces in historical buildings and how the implementation of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) technologies has reduced the environmental diversity and the key role that transitional spaces play in providing thermal comfort in contemporary architectural design.

KEYWORDS:

• adaptation
• adaptive comfort
• educational buildings
• indoor temperature
• lobbies
• thermal comfort
• thermal history
• transitional spaces

Acknowledgement

This study was performed while the lead author was at the University of Sheffield studying for her PhD. The authors thank the Estates and Facilities Managements of the University of Sheffield a well as all the undergraduate students who gave their time to participate in the surveys.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was fully funded by the National Council of Science and Technology of Mexico (CONACYT).