Exploring the key factors affecting indoor thermal comfort through virtual reality: Enhancing labor productivity and achieving energy efficiency

Indoor thermal comfort is a crucial factor for occupant productivity and energy-related behavior in workspaces. Recent studies have shown that non-thermal factors, such as interior design elements, can also affect human thermal perception. A novel experimental methodology is introduced to identify these factors, consisting of two steps: (i) representing an office environment using Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Virtual Reality (VR) tools and (ii) evaluating users' perceptions in the reproduced virtual environment. Indeed, VR enables the creation of fully customizable and immersive scenarios, allowing individuals to experience lifelike sensations and provide real-time feedback on their comfort level. One hundred subjects were interviewed about their comfort and productivity perception in 12 different VR scenes with specific design parameters. Results show that natural lighting and windows with tall and narrow proportions improve occupants' thermal comfort and perceived productivity. Multilevel regression analysis shows that these predictors have a bigger impact on productivity than on thermal sensation. Implementing this methodology in the early-stage design of workspaces may lead to effective strategies for increasing employee satisfaction and productivity. Additionally, retrofitting buildings based on occupants' thermal perceptions can optimize energy use by reducing the demand on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. This approach allows for reduced runtimes without compromising occupant comfort.