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Did you know why comfortable room temperatures vary so much in different countries?
Room temperature usually refers to the indoor air temperature range that people feel comfortable wearing normal clothes. Ideal room temperature can vary widely across cultures, climates, and circumstances. For example, according to the United States, room temperature is defined as between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius, however, other countries and regions have significantly different comfortable room temperature ranges. What is the reason behind this difference?
In the Indonesian study, local residents found 24 to 29 degrees Celsius to be the most comfortable, while in Nigeria, the range was 26 to 28 degrees Celsius, with the recommended comfortable temperature in winter being between 20 and 23.5 degrees Celsius.
According to a survey in India, the comfortable temperature range in Hyderabad is 26 to 32.45 degrees Celsius, with an average of 29.23 degrees Celsius. For many Indians, 30.15 degrees Celsius is considered an ideal comfortable room temperature. These data show that the perception of temperature in different regions may be affected by a variety of factors, including local climate characteristics and daily living habits.
A study by the World Health Organization in 1987 pointed out that a comfortable indoor temperature should be between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius, which would not pose a health risk to healthy adults, while infants and the elderly need to be kept at 20 degrees Celsius. above.
Humans are very sensitive to changes in ambient temperature and can detect even small changes between rooms. Many studies have pointed out that there may be significant differences in the comfort temperature preferences of men and women in summer and winter, and women generally have a stronger preference for higher ambient temperatures.
In addition to cultural and gender factors, the humidity and ventilation conditions of the environment will directly affect the perception of comfortable temperature. For example, in hot weather, one may wish to set the indoor temperature above the comfortable room temperature; whereas in cold weather one may wish to keep the indoor temperature below the comfortable range.
Studies have shown that when the relative humidity is higher than 65%, an environment below 16 degrees Celsius will cause harm to the health of the respiratory system, especially the risk of health problems such as allergies will increase.
In some past surveys, notably a 1978 UK study, the average indoor home temperature was just 15.8 degrees Celsius, well below the current comfort range. A 1980 survey in Japan showed that the median room temperature in homes fluctuated between 55 and 59 degrees Fahrenheit, which presented different challenges when people chose heating equipment and air conditioning settings.
In commercial premises, UK law requires that the room temperature in commercial spaces must be maintained at a certain minimum value, but does not set specific standards for the maximum temperature.
In addition to its impact on daily life, the definition of room temperature in science and industry usually has clear standards. During the transportation and storage of drugs, for example, the United States Pharmacopoeia defines controlled room temperature as between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius, while the European Pharmacopoeia clearly states that it is between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius.
The definitions of room temperature used in different countries are not only a matter of temperature, but also reflect cultural background, economic conditions and people's lifestyles. In such diverse situations, we may wonder, what kind of environment is the most ideal? From health to economy, from culture to comfort, with so many diverse demands, how should we define the word "comfort"?
