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Looking for solutions? Try one of these areas of the web site.
Consumer Solutions
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How important is comfort?
Recommended Read
Aging in Place:
Aging and the Impact of Interior Design Sponsored By: The American Society of Interior Designers, California Closets, DuPont Zodiaq(R),
Sub-Zero, and York Wall coverings and Fabrics This research study shows that a sizeable majority of homeowners plan to remain in their current homes as they age but are not considering how their needs may change over time.
The report includes recommendations on how to design today to anticipate future life stages.
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What do
the terms mean? (For
a detailed overview on comfort
click
here)
Predicted Mean Vote(PMV) is a scale used by your interior
environmental design professional (Environmental
Ergonomists) to predict comfort. Ideal
range is between -0.5 and +0.5 (Neutral).
Percentage of People Dissatisfied (PPD): If 85% of the occupants are
satisfied (or 15% dissatisfied) with their interior environments,
then the Building/HVAC
system is generally considered acceptable. Some things like floor surface temperature, and stratification can influence comfort more than other metrics. Statistically over 50% of
home owners are dissatisfied for one reason or another – but you can
see why by using the comfort calculator.
Air Temperature is what an ordinary thermometer would measure.
Did you notice what happened when you raised or lowered the
air temperature. Temperature stratification also plays a
role in local discomfort.
Radiant Temperature: At rest the human body exchanges between 50% and 60% of its heat via radiation. This metric allows you to simulates what your body feels
as it loses heat to or gains heat form surfaces in the room. Notice the sensitivity of radiant on comfort. Also note the temperature you are controlling is not the surface temperature of a radiant floor for example but the Mean Radiant Temperature of the space.
Learn more about radiant systems.
Relative Humidity is how dry or clammy you would feel. Think
what happens to air after you have had a shower or if the air has been dehumidified by an air conditioner. (Learn More)
Air Velocity is how fast the air is moving through the room.
Air can move naturally through convection or is forced by fans. What
is the relationship
between air temperature and air velocity - play with the
indicators and find out. (Learn More)
Activity Rate
describes what you are doing ...afternoon nap,
or playing tennis perhaps? (Learn More)
Clothing Level
describes what you might be wearing while doing an activity.
Customized
Climate Controlled Therapeutic Rooms…
Is it possible for us aging baby boomers and our parents
to change the countries perception of heating, ventilation,
air conditioning (HVAC) systems from something done to buildings
- to a health, wellness, and comfort (HWC) system which is something
provided for our mind, body and soles?
Lorrie Klosterman
wrote in Women of a Certain Age, Making friends with a new physiology
after 40 ..."I recently sat listening to an explanation
of how geothermal heating and cooling systems work, periodically
wandering off into thoughts of how my meteoric temperature changes,
as a "woman of a certain age," might be harnessed
for renewable energy."
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“Approximately 40 million women are now experiencing menopause. Within the next 10 years, 20 million more women will reach this stage of their lives. Because life expectancy is now more than 76 years, the majority of women will live approximately one third of
their lives after menopause.” Novogyne Pharmaceuticals
…and |
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Women influence most of the decisions related to the home and health.
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Symptoms of a major transition in a women’s life…hot
flashes and skin flushing, night sweats , insomnia , mood
swings including irritability, depression, and anxiety, and
lots of intimate challenges with her physiology.
I am not a woman…but I do know anything in the homes health, wellness and comfort systems which can ease this transition has to be a good thing. Why hasn’t anyone developed a customized space specifically for women to chill
while they burn up! Includes fridge stocked with the favorite refreshments, music, yoga mat…she gets direct control over temperature, humidity, draft etc…- a bizarre thought? Really? We have tool rooms, sewing rooms, laundry rooms, bathrooms, etc…why not a customized climate controlled
therapeutic room?
Check out our April 25, 2007 Blog Feature:
Human Factors and Industrial Design Contributions to the Home as a Healthcare Venue
For an easy to read explanation on how to design your ideal environment,
download The Home Owner's Guide to Indoor Quality Comfort
"According to just about every expert in the health field, the healthcare industry is witnessing the dawn of a new era—the age of the empowered healthcare consumer. Armed with unprecedented access to health–related information via the Internet, today's healthcare consumer is demanding more
involvement in his or her own care..." Russell C. Coile, Jr., editor of HEALTH TRENDS, founding board member of The Center for Health Design
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