Faults and Claims about Thermal Environments in Relation to Energy Saving Measures in Smaller Office Buildings

Building equipment, energy-saving systems, and claims of inappropriate indoor thermal environments were analyzed in relation to the floor area using responses to a questionnaire survey of service managers of 157 buildings built in Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures in Kinki area of Japan. Results show the following: (1) In smaller buildings (< 5,000 m), setting temperatures are higher in summer and lower in winter, effects of “uncomfortable radiation from windows” are greater, energy-saving systems decrease indoor thermal comfort, but claims of “hot” and “cold” are fewer; (2) Claims of “hot” and “cold” are unrelated to the setting temperature and whether the air-conditioning control system is central or local; (3) The adoption rates of mitigation of dress codes (“COOL-BIZ” and “WARM-BIZ”) are higher than those of temperature mitigation of air conditioning.