What is Thermal Comfort and Why is it Important

Thermotek’s dedication to the technology of comfort is something we are proud of.  But what is thermal comfort and why is it so important? Read on to learn more.

How would you define thermal comfort?

Thermal comfort is actually a state of mind. How comfortable are you in your home or environment? It’s all subjective when you think about it. Your body is like a heat engine. You eat food that gets converted into energy and your body releases excess heat into the air. In winter, your body loses more heat. In summer, your body doesn’t release enough. So discomfort is possible in all situations. You may even switch on your air conditioner or heater almost every day.

Does your comfort level at home affect how you feel? Does it change your mood? Of course, it does.

Feeling comfortable is so important for your own happiness and productivity. At work, it’ll be easier to think and produce efficient, effective, successful outcomes. On top of that, your health and wellbeing will also improve.

How can you achieve thermal comfort?

There are two categories:

The low-energy method (which includes natural ventilation, fans and so on).

And the high-energy method (with appliances such as air-conditioning and heaters, etc.).

Everyone wants a cosy home. And that’s what thermal comfort is all about.

Do you know what temperature range provides thermal comfort?

If we’re talking about the interior of a home, it would be around 21 to 25 degrees. That is, without the need for constant heating or cooling.

If you are looking for specifics, I recommend the government’s AccuRate tool. You can assess your home’s energy efficiency in different climates. It will calculate temperatures, heating and cooling energy requirements on an hourly basis.

How do tools like these measure thermal comfort?

Generally, you would enter values for:

The Air Temperature within your home. (the guideline in Australia would be to aim for 20-26 degrees.)

The Radiant Temperature or average temperature of the surfaces inside a room. The aim here would be 30 degrees.

What activities you are doing in the home. Little to no activity is preferable for thermal comfort.

Airspeed: The speed at which the air is moving inside your home. Aim for almost zero air movement.

Humidity: the percentage of water vapour in the air. Aim for between 40 to 70%.

So if your values are above or below these guidelines, discomfort exists.

Do windows play a role in all this?

Most definitely. The wrong windows can make your house cold with drafts. Selecting the right windows for your home will definitely improve your thermal comfort. Windows with a lower U-value prevent cold surface temperatures. Windows with a higher Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) result in overheating.

Some people confuse airflow, or drafts, with ventilation or air infiltration. You may not know that hot air is lighter than cold air. This is because cold air has moisture. The cold window surfaces cool adjacent air. This cooled air falls down, replaced by warmer air, and the window then cools it, and so on. These currents or downdrafts become cold drafts.

What difference can high performing windows make?

Imagine it is snowing outside. Your children are sitting on your window sill without socks on. This is a great example of the comfort level achieved with the right windows.

What about mould?

Yes, it’s important to avoid condensation and mould. Moisture gathers at the coldest point of your room, which is usually around the edge of the glass.

Increasing the temperature at the edge of the glass is an effective solution. The temperature at the edge of the glass depends on the spacer bar, the thickness of the glazing unit, and the installation of the pane in the window. 

Passive House guidelines recommend:

• The best thermal spacer bars.
• Triple glazing, with the widest possible gap between the panes.
• And a well-insulated window frame.
  

About Thermotek

Thermotek is a Melbourne-based manufacturer of double glazed uPVC windows and doors. Check out our great Google reviews here. We create quality, sustainable products for an energy-efficient future. We offer a range of colours and styles.  Get in touch today with any questions. We look forward to helping you on your double-glazing journey.