Living Comfortable Strategies for Offices in Taiwan's Hot-Humid Climate

Abstract:

Taiwan is located in the subtropical zone. The climate in summer is hot with high humidity. In order to establish a comfortable office, it needs a lot of active devices, such as: air conditioner to maintain the suitable indoor temperature and humidity. In this study, a business office in the South District Public Health Center, Taichung City is conducted. According to our findings for the office, although the measured indoor temperature was closer to a comfortable temperature during the winter, the occupants of the indoor space still felt excessively warm. By contrast, the occupants of the same space achieved thermal comfort during the summer. This implies that most of the office occupants preferred a cooler environment with a lower temperature. In addition, because the summers in Taiwan are humid and hot, the occupants of an indoor space tend to feel uncomfortable because of the high humidity regardless of whether the temperature is maintained in a comfortable zone. A lower temperature (approximately 21.2-23.9°C) indirectly reduces humidity, thereby making the occupants comfortable.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 457-458)
• Pages: 1498-1502
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.457-458.1498
• Online since: October 2013
• Authors: Wen Pei Sung, Rong Chen, Hung Chang Chang, Y.K. Zhao
• Keywords: Comfortable Office, High Humidity, Hot Climate

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