Effects of local heating on thermal comfort of standing people in extremely cold environments

Comprehensive evaluation framework for intervention on health effects of ambient temperature

Despite the existence of many interventions to mitigate or adapt to the health effects of climate change, their effectiveness remains unclear. Here, we introduce the Comprehensive Evaluation Framework for Intervention on Health Effects of Ambient Temperature to evaluate study designs and effects of intervention studies. The framework comprises three types of interventions: proactive, indirect, and direct, and four categories of indicators: classification, methods, scope, and effects. We trialed the framework by an evaluation of existing intervention studies. The evaluation revealed that each intervention has its own applicable characteristics in terms of effectiveness, feasibility, and generalizability scores. We expanded the framework's potential by offering a list of intervention recommendations in different scenarios. Future applications are then explored to establish models of the relationship between study designs and intervention effects, facilitating effective interventions to address the health effects of ambient temperature under climate change.

Comparison of thermal comfort between different heating systems and adaptation to different indoor climates in winter

Individual heating systems, such as the air-source heat pump (ASHP) air-conditioner or floor heating (FH), are usually used by people living in the hot summer and cold winter (HSCW) zone of China to heat indoor climates in the winter. However, little research has been conducted in the HSCW zone on the thermal comfort difference between indoor climates heated by ASHP air-conditioners and those heated by floor heating, as well as how occupants adapt to different indoor climates. We conducted a comparative field experiment in ASHP-heated and FH-heated apartments in Nanjing to investigate how different types of heating systems influence the thermal sensation of occupants, and we conducted a comparative field experiment in ASHP-heated office buildings and naturally ventilated teaching buildings in Shanghai to investigate how occupants adapt to different indoor thermal environments. Indoor environmental parameters and body surface temperatures were measured using instruments, and occupants' thermal sensation, activity level, and clothing were evaluated using the questionnaire. The results show that floor heating improves thermal comfort by raising foot temperature compared to the ASHP air-conditioner, and that occupants become acclimatized to different indoor climates by adjusting neutral operative temperature. According to the findings, there is no need to overheat the indoor environment in the HSCW zone because occupants can adapt to their experienced thermal environment and it is critical to maintain warm foot temperature in the cool/cold indoor environment.

Modeling of heat transfer and thermal regulation for an electric heating glove against a cold environment

An electric heating glove can protect the health of workers without affecting flexibility of the hand in a cold environment. A heat transfer model of an electric heating glove with a function of intelligent temperature control was established. The model was verified by a test device for simulating cold-contact exposure. The results showed good agreement between the simulated values and the experimental values. Based on the numerical model, the basic parameters of the electric heating glove were analyzed. It was found that the pressure, thickness and thermal conductivity of the outer fabric were the key factors affecting the thermal regulative performance of the electric heating glove. The power consumption of the electric heating glove was mainly determined by the thickness of the outer fabric. The developed model provides a theoretical basis for the design of an electric heating glove for a thermal regulative effect and energy saving.

Effective interventions on health effects of Chinese rural elderly under heat exposure

Due to climate change, the heatwave has become a more serious public health threat with aging as an aggravating factor in recent years. There is a pressing need to detect the most effective prevention and response measures. However, the specific health effects of interventions have not been characterized on an individual scale. In this study, an intervention experiment was designed to explore the health effects of heat exposure at the individual level and assess the effects of different interventions based on a comprehensive health sensitivity index (CHSI) in Xinyi, China. Forty-one subjects were recruited randomly, and divided into one control group and three intervention groups. Interventions included education (Educate by lecturing, offering relative materials, and communication), subsidy support (offer subsidy to offset the cost of running air conditioning), and cooling-spray (install a piece of cooling-spray equipment in the yard). Results showed that systolic blood pressure (SBP) and deep sleep duration (DSD) were significantly affected by short-term heat exposure, and the effects could be alleviated by three types of interventions. The estimated CHSI indicated that the effective days of the education group were longer than other groups, while the lower CHSI of the subsidy group showed lower sensitivity than the control group. These findings provide feasible implementation strategies to optimize Heat-health action plans and evaluate the intervention performance.

ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at 10.1007/s11783-022-1545-4 and is accessible for authorized users.