NO-2220 (RP-43) -- Thermal Comfort in the Elderly ✓ Most Recent

As man grows older, it is generally agreed that his reduced metabolism forces him to seek warmer environments in order to attain thermal comfort. Such an observation doubtlessly was behind the statement in ASHRAE HANDBOOK of FUNDAMENTALSl which states that "all men and women over 40 years of age prefer a temperature for comfort 1 F (ET) higher than that desired by persons below this age." Partially because this statement is not supported by empirical evidence yet knowledgeable of the metabolic changes that accompany the aging process, the present series of studies was conducted to determine the conditions for thermal comfprt for sedentary elderly persons. Three experiments will be reported.