The study, with field measurement and simulations, explores the effect of ceiling fans on thermal comfort and energy performance of an educational building under the composite climate of New Delhi. While the adaptive comfort models consider thermal adaptation, their modeling always ignores the ceiling fan contribution. In October, 7 days of field research showed a 34% thermal acceptability enhancement when set to an optimal air speed of 0.2 m/s; this extended the thermal comfort zone by 2.5°C, reduced discomfort hours from 84% annually to 71%, and from 64% during the study period. Without fans, the energy simulation indicated that 82% of simulated hours fell outside the IMAC comfort band (21.55–28.75°C). Dismissed was also that when the comfort band was adjusted 2.5°C lower, the discomfort hours were cut to 42%, in tandem with the survey's 38% comfort in the presence of fans. The survey also noted preferred changes in fan speed that act adaptively and cannot be completely simulated with static simulations. Also, combined use of ceiling fans with air conditioning could lead to a possible 30% saving in energy when compared to air conditioning alone use. The findings provide support for the ceiling fan role in creating more comfort with a reduced cooling demand for institutions. Future studies should be focused on seasonal and climatic variations for better integration into adaptive comfort models.
With climate change, low carbon space-cooling approaches are becoming more important. The adaptive comfort model for mixed mode operation can be a promising approach to the cooling energy challenge. This paper used machine learning to predict operative temperature with minimum measurement equipment, for controls to optimise fan operation and minimise AC energy use. The random forest model using the ranger engine proved successful with a Root Means Square Error of 0.090°C, and only 0.88% misclassification of comfort band data.
Compares new lightweight construction technologies against conventional methods in Indian affordable housing, examining both embodied carbon across life-cycle stages and in-use thermal performance. Provides evidence that alternative systems can reduce embodied carbon while maintaining or improving thermal comfort outcomes for low-cost housing.
An evaluation of the environmental sustainability dimension of India’s Smart Cities Mission, examining how selected smart city proposals address urban environmental challenges including air quality, water management, waste handling, and green infrastructure. Assesses the gap between policy promises and on-ground performance across nominated cities.
"This paper empirically finds in Jefferson County that no tract achieves joint sufficiency under current conditions, and that weatherization produces a near-zero Code Sufficiency Probability shift. The failure decomposes into physical and adoption-side pathways, and a low-cost portable filtration alternative delivers a 25 percent benefit at a fortieth of the per-resident capital cost. As a matter of policy, it argues that outcome-based evaluation criteria are needed to complement input-based code compliance assessments in industrial corridors, and that the framework developed here can be transferred to any jurisdiction where outdoor air regulation and residential codes apply concurrently, without specifying indoor exposure outcomes."