Abstract
Ageing, as we know, involves a series of physiological changes that have a negative impact on the individual's thermal perception. However, thermal comfort for the elderly has received little attention from researchers in Brazil, especially regarding the elderly people's own homes. In this context, what parameters can be applied to assess thermal quality in elderly people's homes? To answer this question, thermal comfort parameters have been determined for elderly people in their homes in the city of Campina Grande, Paraíba State, Brazil. For this empirical research, a multiple-method strategy was implemented through the use of structured interviews to collect data concerning individual and subjective variables, as well as the measurement of data concerning environmental variables through the use of dedicated tools and equipment. The probit model for estimating probabilities was used to determine the parameters of thermal comfort, confirming the preference of elderly people for warmer environments. The results can help design home environments that are more comfortable for elderly people, through post-occupancy evaluation (POE) and simulations of the thermal performance of houses or building during the designing stage.
Keywords:
Thermal sensation; Elderly people; Semiarid region
