Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: In standard building practice, indoor thermal conditions are generally regulated by HVAC systems operating either at fixed set points, commonly determined according to ASHRAE-recommended thermal comfort ranges based on environmental parameters, metabolic rate, activity level, and clothing insulation, or at manually adjusted set points selected by occupants according to immediate thermal needs. This study proposes a novel pathway for the development of a wearable technology that communicates occupant-specific thermal comfort requirements to HVAC systems by incorporating psychological mood state as an additional parameter. The proposed approach consists of four stages: (i) obtaining ethical approval, (ii) training the algorithm, (iii) developing the wearable device, and (iv) testing the integrated system. During algorithm training, participants complete the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire while thermal data from specific facial landmarks are recorded at predefined intervals. POMS was selected to assess mood state, and facial temperature was used due to its sensitivity to emotional and thermal changes. The resulting algorithm is designed to infer mood state from physiological input data. In the testing phase, the trained algorithm, embedded in the wearable device, collects real-time physiological data and communicates with a thermal camera integrated into the HVAC system to predict occupant mood state. The HVAC system then adjusts its operation to address individual thermal sensation needs while monitoring energy consumption. This pathway study presents the methodological framework for a psychology-sensitive HVAC system.
Source: ZeroBuild Journal
Institution: Atilim University
Language: English
Subfield: Building and Construction
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Award: G233575870
OpenAlex ID: W7208835899