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Buildings
Special Issues
Development of Indoor Environment Comfort
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Development of Indoor Environment Comfort

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 6535

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sheng Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
Interests: advanced air distribution; thermal comfort (indoor and outdoor); airborne infection risk control; solar cooling and heating; net-/nearly zero energy building system (building level and community level)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zhaosong Fang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Interests: outdoor thermal environment; human thermal comfort; air distribution; building ventilation; low-carbon building technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xiwen Feng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Interests: outdoor thermal environment; thermal radiation transfer; human thermal response

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Indoor air quality and thermal comfort significantly affect the wellbeing of indoor occupants; however, creating healthy and comfortable indoor environments consumes a large proportion of building energy. New developments in indoor comfort and health are emerging, such as the following: non-uniform thermal environments, personalized thermal comfort, thermal adaptations, interactions of thermal comfort with other comfort domains, AI-powered thermal comfort models, intelligent algorithm-based control methods, advanced air distribution, graded ventilation, interactive cascaded ventilation, vortex ring ventilation, intermittent demand-controlled ventilation, and airborne infection risk control. These advanced developments not only contribute to occupants’ satisfaction and health but also save energy, a prospect that is of particular interest in this Special Issue. Relevant topics covered by this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following subjects:

  • Thermal comfort;
  • Indoor air quality;
  • Airborne infection risk control;
  • Advanced air distribution;
  • Building ventilation;
  • Radiant cooling;
  • Radiant heating.

Dr. Sheng Zhang
Dr. Zhaosong Fang
Dr. Xiwen Feng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • thermal comfort
  • indoor air quality
  • advanced air distribution
  • building ventilation
  • radiant cooling
  • radiant heating
  • thermal adaptation
  • airborne infection risk

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

19 pages, 1178 KB  
Article
Field Study of Relationships Between Indoor Thermal Conditions and Two Major Causes of Allergies—Dust Mites and Mould—In New Zealand Houses
by Bin Su, Peter McPherson, Renata Jadresin Milic and Lian Wu
Buildings 2025, 15(17), 3074; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15173074 - 27 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1072
Abstract
Based on field studies, this study contributes the new physical data of winter indoor thermal conditions of the indoor spaces with four different dust mite allergen levels in New Zealand houses. This study provides a new method to identify the relationships between indoor [...] Read more.
Based on field studies, this study contributes the new physical data of winter indoor thermal conditions of the indoor spaces with four different dust mite allergen levels in New Zealand houses. This study provides a new method to identify the relationships between indoor thermal conditions and indoor dust mite allergen levels. This study found that the indoor mean relative humidity (RH) close to the floor must be controlled below 70%, and there must be less than 30% of time in winter when indoor RH close to the floor is higher than or equal to 75% to maintain indoor dust mite allergens at an undetectable level; and the indoor mean RH close to the floor must be controlled below 75%, and there must be less than 50% of time in winter when indoor RH close to the floor is higher than or equal to 75% to maintain indoor dust mite allergens at a low (acceptable) level. This study also identified the relationship between indoor thermal conditions for dust mites to thrive and for mould spores to germinate. This study provides a strategy or guideline for preventing indoor allergies related to dust mites and mould under the temperate climate zone; the winter is mild and humid. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Indoor Environment Comfort)
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20 pages, 2665 KB  
Article
Subjective Perception and Cooling Effect for Dynamic Ventilation with Fluctuating Air Velocity
by Chunfeng Lao, Jing Ling, Jing Li, Jinghua Jiang, Sheng Zhang, Yan Yan, Yue Yin and Mingliang Gu
Buildings 2025, 15(16), 2871; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15162871 - 14 Aug 2025
Viewed by 464
Abstract
Dynamic ventilation has proven effective in enhancing indoor thermal comfort. However, previous studies often expose participants to inconsistent thermal environments, potentially compromising the accuracy of subjective evaluations. To address this limitation, this study implemented dynamic ventilation with fluctuating air velocity in an accurately [...] Read more.
Dynamic ventilation has proven effective in enhancing indoor thermal comfort. However, previous studies often expose participants to inconsistent thermal environments, potentially compromising the accuracy of subjective evaluations. To address this limitation, this study implemented dynamic ventilation with fluctuating air velocity in an accurately controlled environmental chamber. Objective measurements of indoor air velocity and air temperature distribution are conducted, and subjective thermal sensation votes are collected under thermally consistent environments among participants. During the experiment, all participants experience similar dynamic thermal environments. The results show that participants experience thermal comfort under dynamic ventilation. Dynamic ventilation enhances convective heat transfer between the human body and the surrounding air and stimulates cutaneous cold receptors. The pronounced cooling effect of dynamic airflow contributes to a reduction in skin temperature on the head, chest, upper arm, forearm, hand, and thigh, with a temperature drop ranging from 1.3% to 2.8%. In addition, dynamic ventilation significantly reduces draft risk, with the proportion of participants reporting a dissatisfied sensation decreasing from 10% to 0%. This study demonstrates the advantages of dynamic ventilation in improving thermal comfort and minimizing draft risk under controlled and uniform environmental conditions for all participants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Indoor Environment Comfort)
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15 pages, 6966 KB  
Article
A Concise Grid-Based Model Revealing the Temporal Dynamics in Indoor Infection Risk
by Pengcheng Zhao and Xiaohong Zheng
Buildings 2025, 15(15), 2786; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15152786 - 6 Aug 2025
Viewed by 488
Abstract
Determining the transmission routes of pathogens in indoor environments is challenging, with most studies limited to specific case analyses and pilot experiments. When pathogens are instantaneously released by a patient in an indoor environment, the peak infection risk may not occur immediately but [...] Read more.
Determining the transmission routes of pathogens in indoor environments is challenging, with most studies limited to specific case analyses and pilot experiments. When pathogens are instantaneously released by a patient in an indoor environment, the peak infection risk may not occur immediately but may instead appear at a specific moment during the pathogen’s spread. We developed a concise model to describe the temporal crest of infection risk. The model incorporates the transmission and degradation characteristics of aerosols and surface particles to predict infection risks via air and surface routes. Only four real-world outbreaks met the criteria for validating this phenomenon. Based on the available data, norovirus is likely to transmit primarily via surface touch (i.e., the fomite route). In contrast, crests of infection risk were not observed in outbreaks of respiratory diseases (e.g., SARS-CoV-2), suggesting a minimal probability of surface transmission in such cases. The new model can serve as a preliminary indicator for identifying different indoor pathogen transmission routes (e.g., food, air, or fomite). Further analyses of pathogens’ transmission routes require additional evidence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Indoor Environment Comfort)
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25 pages, 7050 KB  
Article
Rethinking Indoor Environment Demand and Control in Hot Summer from a “Yin Summer-Heat” Perspective in Traditional Chinese Medicine
by Siwei Xu, Jia Du and Bin Chen
Buildings 2025, 15(6), 940; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15060940 - 17 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1460
Abstract
Air conditioning is the most common and efficient measure against summer heat. However, overcooling issues exist widely in well-conditioned buildings, and the health risks and causes require further exploration. This study aims to rethink the indoor environment control and demand in hot summer [...] Read more.
Air conditioning is the most common and efficient measure against summer heat. However, overcooling issues exist widely in well-conditioned buildings, and the health risks and causes require further exploration. This study aims to rethink the indoor environment control and demand in hot summer from a novel perspective of yin summer-heat in traditional Chinese medicine. The core idea was to reflect health risks embodied in the indoor environment control that was oriented by the average comfort zone in air-conditioned buildings. Three research questions were explored, namely, indoor–outdoor environment features in hot summer, the heterogeneity of demands and behaviors, and relationships between personal attributes and lifestyles. Eleven field tests were conducted in residential buildings, together with experiments in an office building and three questionnaire surveys with 765 responses from 2020 to 2023 in China. Results showed that notable indoor–outdoor environment gaps appeared due to air conditioning. Yin summer-heat symptoms, such as a heavy feeling in the body, were reported by individuals of vulnerable constitutions even in neutral air-conditioned environments. In addition, Chinese medicine theories, including pathogenic factors, constitutions, and health preservation principles, worked well to interpret diverse environment perceptions, demands, and adaptive behaviors. These findings will add to the scientific basis of wellbeing in indoor environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Indoor Environment Comfort)
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22 pages, 2774 KB  
Article
Innovative Prefabricated Wall Panel for Solar Utilization and Energy Efficiency: Building-Integrated Heat Pipe-Embedded System for Cooling-Dominant Zones
by Hui Long and Yangguang Xu
Buildings 2025, 15(4), 559; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15040559 - 12 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1214
Abstract
Buildings are major contributors to carbon emissions, emphasizing the need for energy efficiency. However, existing solar-integrated building façades often face integration and adaptability challenges. The aim of this study is to propose and evaluate an innovative building-integrated heat pipe-embedded (BiHPe) prefabricated wall panel [...] Read more.
Buildings are major contributors to carbon emissions, emphasizing the need for energy efficiency. However, existing solar-integrated building façades often face integration and adaptability challenges. The aim of this study is to propose and evaluate an innovative building-integrated heat pipe-embedded (BiHPe) prefabricated wall panel for sustainable building design. By embedding heat pipes into concrete walls, the system transfers solar energy to domestic water. The performance of the system is evaluated using a comprehensive approach that integrates dynamic modeling, experimental validation, parametric analysis, and a case study. A dynamic energy balance model was developed and experimentally validated, identifying key factors affecting system performance, such as heat pipe spacing, absorber material, and heat pipe placement and configuration. Parametric analysis was conducted to assess the impact of these variables. Simulation results from a case study in Hong Kong show that the system reduces wall heat transmission to 76.1%, achieves a water gain efficiency of 16.7%, and saves 162 kWh/m2 of electricity annually. Additionally, the system stabilizes indoor temperatures, improving thermal comfort. The BiHPe panel offers a multifunctional solution that combines energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and water heating, demonstrating exceptional adaptability and performance in cooling-dominant zones, making it a promising option for sustainable building design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Indoor Environment Comfort)
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Review

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22 pages, 2131 KB  
Review
Research Progress on CO2 Transcritical Cycle Technology for Building Heating and Cooling Applications
by Weixiu Shi, Haiyu Chang, Junwei Zhou, Bai Mu, Shuang Quan and Lisheng Pan
Buildings 2025, 15(16), 2952; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15162952 - 20 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1091
Abstract
This review focuses on the advancements of CO2 transcritical cycle technology in building indoor environmental regulation, particularly in combined heating and cooling applications. The paper highlights the energy efficiency and environmental benefits of CO2 as a natural refrigerant, which has zero [...] Read more.
This review focuses on the advancements of CO2 transcritical cycle technology in building indoor environmental regulation, particularly in combined heating and cooling applications. The paper highlights the energy efficiency and environmental benefits of CO2 as a natural refrigerant, which has zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and very low global warming potential (GWP). It provides a comprehensive overview of recent optimization strategies, including distributed compression, the integration of ejectors and expanders, and the design improvements of key components such as gas coolers, compressors, and throttling valves. Through optimization strategies such as dual-system cycles, this technology can achieve a COP improvement of 15.3–46.96% in heating scenarios; meanwhile, with the help of distributed compression technology, its cooling capacity can be enhanced by up to 26.5%. The review also examines various operating conditions such as discharge pressure and subcooling, which significantly affect system performance. The paper concludes by identifying the current challenges in the application of CO2 systems, such as high initial costs and system stability under extreme conditions, and suggests future research directions to overcome these limitations and improve the practical application of CO2 transcritical cycles in the building industry. Overall, it is concluded that the development of expander-compressors holds great potential for achieving better performance and represents a promising direction for future advancements in this field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Indoor Environment Comfort)
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