Improve thermal comfort
The six factors affecting thermal comfort are both environmental and personal. These factors may be independent of each other, but together contribute to an employee's thermal comfort.
Environmental factors:
Personal factors:
Toolkits 22
for improving thermal comfort
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Options
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Option 1: adopt double-glazed windows
Description
Double glazing refers to a sealed glass unit comprising two sheets of glass separated by a spacer bar around the outside of the glass. The spacer bar creates an air gap between the glass panes. It is this gap that creates the insulation break between the inside and outside of the window.
Benefits
- Better Insulation, ensures the warmer winters and cooler summers.
- Noise Reduction, double glaze windows provide better insulation for noise compared to single glazing
- Increased Security, double glazed windows are much harder to break compared to single glazed windows. It is also very difficult to force them to open from the outside.
- Reduced Energy Bills, double glazing allows your house to retain or avoid most of the heat it gains from the sun during the winter or summer, which means less usage of heat or air conditioner and save energy.
- others
Challenges
- Can’t be repaired. The space between the two panes of glass traps air, forming a layer of insulation. If the seal isn’t airtight, condensation will appear between the panes. Once sealed, the panes can’t be pulled apart and repaired. The window will have to be replaced.
- Not a good match for older homes. Double glazed windows are modern looking, so they can clash with older styles. And if a homeowner decides not to replace every windows with double glazed windows, the overall appearance of the home will look mismatched.
Impact Level
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impact level scale, it mainly shows how much impact of this option to the daylight factor
Design Impact
Cost
DIY Level
Structural
Impact
Key design phase
- G.Work behind the walls
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Renovation Phase
A. Make a plan
B. Set a budget
C. Hire a contractor
D. Talk to your insurance company
E. Secure permits and order materials
F. Start demolition
G.Work behind the walls
H. Paint and install flooring
I. Install cabinetry
J. Add finishing touches
Option 2: adopt horizontal & vertical shading
Description
The external shading systems are more effective than the interior shading systems (blinds) simply because, if the sun’s energy does not enter the house, then it does not have to be dealt with. The exterior shading louvers often need little or no maintenance as well apart from the paint maintenance.
The vertical louvers are most useful for the west and east façade of the building.
Horizontal louvers are best utilized at the south façade of the building to block and reduce the solar gain during the summer season, thus reducing the cooling load on the building or house.
Benefits
- The horizontal and vertical shading device has a simple concept and easy installation procedure, considered to be efficient in energy saving in building heating and cooling energy consumption.
- Reduces the need for air conditioning
- Considerably more effective at reducing solar gain than internal blinds.
Challenges
- Higher cost to retrofit than internal blinds.
- Reduces natural light and therefore increases the need for artificial lighting.
- Can impact on occupant views.
Impact Level
Design Impact
Cost
DIY Level
Structural
Impact
Key design phase
- G.Work behind the walls