Personal environmental control systems: Comfort, health, and productivity in offices

In the current context of urgent challenges related to energy crisis, climate change and sustainability, this thesis presented feasible, implementable approaches in offices to reduce the winter heating in the offices while satisfying a varied set of occupants’ needs (comfort, health and productivity). The findings suggest that winter indoor temperatures in offices may be lowered to as much as 17°C under dynamic indoor conditions, while respecting thermal comfort by heating hands and feet. Meanwhile, a healthy cold stimulation to human thermoregulation can be sustained. Thermal discomfort also does not necessarily affect productivity in a moderate temperature range. Moreover, blue light may further improve thermal comfort and productivity in cold conditions. The presented approaches potentiate significant energy saving in offices and may benefit (metabolic, cardiovascular and circadian) health in the long term.