Temperature

Zhang and colleagues link air temperature and perceived indoor air quality in university classrooms; it seems likely that their findings are also relevant in other contexts. 

Alkaabi and Raza link temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels in cars to driver comfort. 

Leon’s work has ramifications for the design of spaces where UV radiation might be present. 

Both physical and mental health are linked to effective ventilation and air movement management. Neuroscience studies suggest how to manage “air” so it’s more likely that people think and act in positive ways, ones that boost their wellbeing and cognitive performance.

The temperature of air surrounding us has a dramatic effect on how we experience a space and what we do/think while we’re in it.  The highlights of neuroscience research on our “best temperatures,” how design can influence how warm/cold we think a space is, and why ambient temperature matters at all are reviewed here.

HVAC, comfort effects

Research indicates that urban design is affecting neighborhood temperatures.

Asano and colleagues learned that walking in hot outdoor environments can harm subsequent cognitive performance indoors;  this finding supports creating more temperature controlled indoor walking areas in office complexes and similar locations.

Speak and Salbitano evaluated comfort in a range of different urban places. 

Vellei  and colleagues studied how preferred air temperatures vary from one time of day to another.