Field study of different thermal requirements based on the indoor activities patterns of rural residents in winter in Northwest China

Series of field tests were conducted during the winter in rural Northwest China, to assess the current indoor thermal environment and to obtain different heating models and the indoor heating design temperature of each function room. The results show that the average indoor air temperature is significantly higher with heating than that without heating, with high levels of residents' dissatisfaction under both conditions. The indoor activities patterns of rural residents are relatively similar. New heating models suitable for rural buildings were identified. The analysis about the evaluation of average thermal sensation levels showed that the comfortable indoor temperature range of the active state was higher than that of the sleep state. The indoor heating design temperature of different function rooms measured over different time periods were obtained. Both increasing clothing insulation in the active state and bed heating in the sleep state could reduce the demands for indoor heating. These results could serve as a basis for the design of new heating technologies which can improve current indoor thermal environment conditions.