The Influence of Transient Changes in Indoor and Outdoor Thermal Comfort on the Use of Outdoor Space by Older Adults in the Nursing Home

Recently, the requirements regarding environment of nursing homes are high, because elderly a vulnerable group with limited adaptive capacity to respond transient environmental change. This paper presents field investigation on influence thermal comfort changes between indoor and outdoor spaces (i.e., air temperature (Ta), solar radiation (SR), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (WS), indices Universal Thermal Index (UTCI)) willingness use Wanxia home Chengdu City. Results indicated that, in summer, mean UTCI values corridor corresponded level moderate heat stress, while those road garden strong stress level. Road even showed spring. Approximately 28.93% (139) living here used every day. The morning period (from 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m.) was elderly’s favorited for using seasons. microclimatic differences ranged from 0.47 °C 2.93 (|?Ta|), 86.09 W/m2 206.76 (|?SR|), 5.29% 14.76% (?RH), 0.01 m/s 0.07 (|?WS|), 0.25 2.25 (?UTCI). These big microclimate could cause enormous health risks process space conversion. minimal change occurred corridors indoors. Pearson correlation analysis ?Ta ?RH were primary meteorological factors that influenced willing spaces. preferred live constant Ta RH environment. Only when small enough resemble steady-state (?UTCI ? 0.5 °C), ?WS ?SI affect choice space. Optimal design strategies put forward reducing microclimates inspire safely, including improving canopy coverage mechanical ventilation.