Insights into Personalized Thermal Comfort through Innovative Data Collection: case study from HSB Living Lab

Paper in proceeding, 2025

This study investigates personalized thermal comfort through ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and wearable-supported feedback within a cold-climate context. Conducted at the HSB Living Lab in Gothenburg, Sweden, the research integrates real-time subjective comfort responses collected via the Cozie app with high-resolution indoor environmental data. The study explores the gap between predictive thermal comfort models-such as PMV and in-situ human perception in a real-world setting. Three primary outcomes were achieved. First, the study evaluates the predictive accuracy of PMV against daily participant feedback, revealing significant mismatches, particularly in detecting thermal discomfort (i.e., preferences for "warmer" or "cooler" conditions). Second, it introduces thermal fingerprinting for each participant, visualizing comfort patterns through a combination of statistical modelling, environmental exposure, and perception-response correlation. Third, the study advances spatial analysis by introducing a 3D "comfort landscape" of the HSB Living Lab, color-coding rooms by average perceived discomfort and overlaying sun exposure patterns to uncover how orientation and time-of-day lighting conditions may affect thermal comfort. The findings highlight the limitations of conventional models in real-life applications and reinforce the need for occupant-centric, context-aware approaches to environmental control. Based on this integrated analysis, the study proposes strategies that consider spatial, behavioural, and seasonal dynamics-offering pathways to enhance both personal well-being and energy efficiency in shared living environments.