Abstract

It is crucial to investigate the effects of indoor thermal environmental conditions on human performance, especially in India, during the winter when there is a significant need for space heating to maintain human comfort conditions. The present study was conducted in a controlled climate during winter, with 96 participants exposed to four air temperatures: 15 o C, 18 o C, 21 o C, and 24 o C. Participant's thermal comfort, emotion, and self-rated workload were assessed using a subjective questionnaire, while their performance was quantitatively evaluated using a neurobehavioral test. The data was analyzed to establish how the various thermal environmental factors influence performance, workload, emotion, and thermal sensations. The results show that the highest performance within the experimental thermal environmental conditions was observed when the thermal sensation ranges from neutral to slightly warm (+0.20) at the 23.5 o C mean standard effective temperature. At the same sensation, the occupant's mood disturbance and the mental workload for completing the task were minimal. These results would be helpful for facility managers of buildings by giving them insight into the impact of under or over-heating spaces on occupant performance during winter in the composite climate of India.