The effect of nudging on the usage of an energy-consuming device associated with human indoor thermal comfort is investigated together with the corresponding effect on occupant subjective thermal comfort.

Thirty-six subjects participated in an experiment conducted in an environmental room controlled to maintain a stable warm condition (operative temperature: 29.5 °C; corresponding PMV: 1.44). Each subject had full control over a small, individual desk fan, and feedback messaging (the ‘nudge’) was delivered via laptop computers. Real-time usage status of desk fans was monitored, and subjects completed questionnaires before and after their test session, in addition to within-session subjective thermal evaluations.

For the sample tested, feedback messaging was observed to nudge occupants to reduce usage of the device (desk fan) in the warm environment and to tolerate accompanying thermal discomfort, though preference to be cooler increased for some. Whilst this finding may eventually lead to future application for supporting changes to HVAC system operation and setpoints that align with adaptive comfort ranges, it is essential that further, more comprehensive, research is undertaken to re-confirm this finding and to explore other thermal situations in which it might apply. Moreover, implications for human health and well-being should be investigated prior to implementation in practice.

研究了轻推对与人体室内热舒适相关的耗能设备使用的影响以及对居住者主观热舒适的相应影响。

36 名受试者参加了在环境室中进行的实验，该实验室控制以保持稳定的温暖条件（操作温度：29.5 °C；相应的 PMV：1.44）。每个受试者都可以完全控制一个小型的个人台扇，并且通过笔记本电脑传递反馈信息（“轻推”）。台扇的实时使用状态受到监控，受试者在测试之前和之后完成了问卷调查，以及会话内的主观热评估。

对于测试的样本，观察到反馈消息会促使居住者减少在温暖环境中使用设备（台式风扇）并容忍伴随的热不适，尽管一些人更喜欢凉爽。虽然这一发现最终可能会导致未来的应用支持改变 HVAC 系统操作和与适应性舒适范围一致的设定点，但必须进行进一步、更全面的研究以重新确认这一发现并探索其他热情况它可能适用。此外，在实际实施之前应调查对人类健康和福祉的影响。