PPORTUNITIES TO MAINTAIN THERMAL COMFORT IN BEIJIN

This paper investigates whether careful attention to architectural design and use of mechanical ventilation are sufficient to maintain thermal comfort in dwellings in Beijing , without the use of vapor-compression air-conditioning equipment. The study was motivated by a desire to define strategies that would reduce building operating costs, energy demands, potential environmental impacts associated with energy usage , and potential occupant dissatisfaction with air conditioning, due to reduced outdoor-air intake and large temperature changes associated with entering or leaving a building . Results show that drastically lowering solar gains and use of large, fan-driven , airflows at night are sufficient to reduce indoor peak temperatures to as low as 29℃, when the outdoor peak is 33℃. Further reductions to 26.5℃ if possible as internal gains are reduced to the limit of being completely eliminated.