Mark Fretz and Jason Stenson of the Institute For Health in the Built Environment (IHBE) and Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory (ESBL) have published a new paper in Buildings, titled Impact of Wood on Perception of Transient and Steady-State Indoor Thermal Environments. We extend many thanks to co-authors Denise (Blankenberger) Gravelle of Quinn Evans, and Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg of the College of Architecture at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The paper presents findings from two experiments that explored how interior wall materials influence perceived thermal comfort. Participants were placed in a climate chamber finished with either white-painted gypsum wallboard or unfinished laminated Douglas Fir panels.
In the first experiment, the thermal environment varied while wall type remained constant. Results showed that thermal history significantly influenced perceived comfort, regardless of wall material. The second experiment maintained a steady thermal environment while varying wall types, which were revealed from behind a black curtain. Initial reactions suggested a slight difference in perceived comfort, but diminished within 15 minutes of exposure to the new setting.