Assessing the Impact of Human Heat Emissions and Living Walls on Thermal Comfort in Ventilation-Free Indoor Environments

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-2026

Abstract

In indoor environments, human heat emissions and passive cooling solutions like living walls significantly influence thermal comfort and air quality, particularly during periods without active ventilation. This study investigates the combined impact of human-generated heat and green walls on thermal comfort and indoor conditions through an integrated experimental and computational approach. A thermal manikin, simulating a human occupant, was placed in a controlled indoor chamber equipped with a living wall. The chamber was allowed to reach a steady-state condition, after which temperature and relative humidity (RH) were monitored using multiple sensors. The ventilation system was turned off for one hour to assess the thermal and hygroscopic effects of the green wall in the absence of active airflow. Results indicate that the living wall reduced the indoor temperature by approximately 6 °F, enhancing thermal comfort during ventilation downtime. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using ANSYS, validated with experimental data, modeled the interaction between human thermal plumes and the cooling effects of the living wall. Findings reveal that the living wall effectively mitigates temperature gradients and contributes to a more uniform thermal distribution. However, when the thermal manikin was introduced, the temperature reduction was limited to about 2.2 °F due to the impact of human thermal plumes, which contributed to localized heating and altered airflow patterns. This research underscores the potential of living walls to improve indoor thermal comfort and sustainability in ventilation-free scenarios. It provides actionable insights for engineers, architects, and building designers aiming to balance energy efficiency with occupant comfort by incorporating green infrastructure into HVAC system designs.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering

First Page

541

Last Page

551

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