THERMAL COMFORT ASSESSMENT OF BOARDING HOUSES IN CANDISEWU, SEMARANG USING THE CBE THERMAL COMFORT TOOL

Abstract

Thermal comfort is an important factor in determining the quality of indoor environments, particularly in boarding houses where occupants spend a substantial amount of time for living, studying, and resting. In tropical climates such as Semarang, high outdoor temperatures, humidity, and inadequate natural ventilation can create uncomfortable indoor thermal conditions. Boarding houses in Candisewu, Semarang, have diverse spatial configurations, orientations, openings, and ventilation conditions that may influence occupants’ thermal comfort. However, thermal comfort conditions in this type of residential building have received limited attention. This study aimed to assess the thermal comfort conditions of boarding houses in Candisewu, Semarang, using the CBE Thermal Comfort Tool and to identify the environmental factors that contribute to thermal discomfort. The study employed a quantitative field-based approach involving measurements of indoor air temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, and mean radiant temperature in selected boarding house rooms. The measured environmental parameters were analyzed using the CBE Thermal Comfort Tool to determine Predicted Mean Vote (PMV), Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD), and adaptive thermal comfort conditions. The results indicated variations in thermal comfort conditions among the investigated rooms, primarily associated with differences in ventilation, solar exposure, room orientation, and air movement. Several rooms experienced thermal conditions outside the preferred comfort range, indicating the need for passive design improvements to enhance indoor thermal performance.