Assessment of Thermal Comfort and Indoor Air Quality in the Low-Income Dwellings

Abstract

This study is a part of research about improvement of the dwellings which belong to the low-income people in Surakarta Indonesia. It focuses on the discussion about the proper method used to assess thermal comfort of the dwellings and the comfort feeling accepted by the occupants. Consideration is also emphasized on the indoor air quality and health of the people who live in the dwellings. This research is expected to provide a guidance of how to conduct a field-survey of thermal comfort and indoor air quality which can be used by the local government, stakeholders and other researchers in the development process. For this purpose, a pilot survey was conducted, including three steps, i.e., momentary measurements of the indoor/outdoor thermal environment, questionnaires/interviews about thermal sensation, indoor air quality, health and observations and checklist. The results of the pilot survey method were evaluated to be implemented in the final field survey which highlighted on the improvement of the measurement procedures (time planning, equipment, surveyors), interviews/questionnaires and the observation. As conclusions, the method of conducting field survey in the dwellings of the low-income groups must consider the efficiency of the procedures and accuracy of the measurement equipment. The background of the dwelling’s occupants has to be considered as well. Meanwhile, communication with the low-income community must be facilitated using simple local language and supported by pictograms.