Rethinking Indoor Environment Demand and Control in Hot Summer from a “Yin Summer-Heat” Perspective in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Air conditioning is the most common and efficient measure against summer heat. Currently, about 1.6 billion air conditioners are used around the world, half of which are located in the USA and China. However, overcooling issues exist widely in well-conditioned modern buildings and cause not only energy wastes but also health risks. This study aims to rethink the indoor environment control and demand in hot summer from a novel perspective of yin summer-heat under traditional Chinese medicine theories. Three research questions were explored, namely, indoor-outdoor environment features in hot summer, passive control strategies applied in traditional houses, and the heterogeneity of demands and behaviors. Twelve field tests were delivered in residential and office buildings, together with a case study in a traditional house and three questionnaire surveys with 602 responses from 2020 to 2023 in China. Results showed that notable indoor-outdoor environment gaps were common in modern buildings due to air conditioning. Yin summer-heat symptoms, such as heavy body, were reported by individuals of vulnerable constitutions even in neutral air conditioned spaces. The passive design strategies in traditional houses, such as buffer spaces to avoid sudden temperature changes, performed well to prevent pathogenic excesses in hot summer. In addition, Chinese medicine theories, including pathogenic factors, constitutions, and health preservation principles, worked well to interpret diverse environment perceptions, demands and adaptive behaviors. Findings of this study will add to the scientific basis of human-centric control strategies and encourage further reflections on how to create wellbeing environment in modern buildings.
Source: Buildings
Institution: Dalian University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Building and Construction
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
OpenAlex ID: W4408520730