The Future of Thermal Comfort in an Energy- Constrained World (Springer Theses)

Thedissertationinvestigatesthescientificandbusinessfactorsthathaveresultedinair-conditioningbeingamajorcontributortoclimate-change.Withhisarchitecturalbackground,theauthordemonstrateshowadesignmethodology,notcommonlyadoptedinscientificstudies,mayactuallybeasuitablewayofdealingwithacomplexproblem:the'businessasusual'scenarioinvolvingbuildingscience,sociologicalvaluesandconsumerbehavior.Usinghisinnovationsascasestudies,theauthorshowshowgoodideascannotbeevaluatedonscientificmeritaloneanddemonstrateswhycommercializationmayhaveapivotalroleindeploymentofresearch-basedtechnology.Headvancesthetheoryofpersonalizedthermalcomfortwhichcanpotentiallyresolvetheair-conditioningconundrum.