Research Design Connection: Yes, It Is Cold at Work, For Some
Women are cold in offices for a good reason, it turns out. Kingma and Lichtenbelt report that, “Indoor climate regulations are based on an empirical thermal comfort model that was developed in the 1960s… Standard values for one of its primary variables –metabolic rate – are based on an average male, and may overestimate female metabolic rate by up to 35%…This may cause buildings to be intrinsically non- energy efficient in providing comfort to females. Therefore, we make a case to use actual metabolic rates…Ultimately, an accurate representation of thermal demand of all occupants leads to actual energy consumption predictions and real energy savings of buildings that are designed and operated by the buildings services community.” Currently, many office temperatures are set at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature that’s comfortable for most men. However, many women would be comfortable at 75 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes life difficult. The solution may …
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