Modelling drivers of variance and adaptation for the prediction of thermal perception and energy use in zero energy buildings

As thermal perception is a subjective "condition of mind", a high variance in observed thermal sensation votes does not come to a surprise. Literature reviews show a large number of individual and contextual influences. However, the quantification of the effect of individual drivers on thermal perception as well as thermal adaptation and their integration into thermal comfort models is still an open field of research. Still, analyses of the energy balance of zero-energy buildings (ZEB) are using assumptions related to the user\u27s needs e.g. in terms of thermal comfort. First, this paper explores a novel combination of a biophysical model and an adaptive framework (called the ATHB*TNZ approach) and discusses the applicability of such approach to model individual differences in thermal perception. Second, results of an implementation of these individualized comfort prediction on the energy balance of a zero energy building are presented together with the resulting discomfort hours. Results show that the consideration of physiological differences and adaptive processes in the modelling approach can replicate observed variations in thermal perception. The energy balance of a ZEB is hardly affected by set point adjustments due to individual requirements, but discomfort hours strongly depend on individual characteristics of occupants

The ambivalence of personal control over indoor climate - How much personal control is adequate?

Literature sets personal control over indoor environmental conditions in relation to the gap between predicted and actual energy use, the gap between predicted and observed user satisfaction, and health aspects. A focus on building energy performance often leads to the proposal of more automated and less occupant control of the indoor environment. However, a high degree of personal control is desirable because research shows that a low degree (or no) personal control highly correlates with indoor environmental dissatisfaction and sick building syndrome symptoms. These two tendencies seem contradictory and optimisation almost impossible. Based on current efficiency classes describing the effect of room automation systems on building energy use during operation, fundamental thoughts related to thermophysiology and control, recent laboratory experiments, important lessons learnt from post-occupancy studies, and documented conceptual frameworks on the level of control perceived, we discuss the ambivalence of personal control and how much personal control is adequate. Often-proposed solutions ranging from fully automated controls, over manual controls to dummy controls are discussed according to their effect on a) building energy use during operation and b) occupants perceived control. The discussion points to the importance of adequate personal control. In order to meet the goals for nearly zero energy buildings and for a human-centric design, there is the need to establish design procedures for adequate personal control as part of the design process

Ethical Aspects of Animal Experimentation

If inquiries are made of people regarding their attitudes towards animal experimentation, there will no doubt be various answers corresponding to the different ethical attitudes today. Three principle points of view are imaginable. The two extremes are: an unrestricted support of all animal experiments; and a radical rejection of any such experiment. These two positions, in all likelihood, are taken by only a minority of the population. The majority will approve of animal experimentation in principle, however, only insofar as it is really necessary to preserve human life. So, the point of controversy arises from the question: When is an animal experiment necessary and indispensable