Thermal Comfort and Adaptive Occupant Behaviour in Open Plan Offices in India and Lithuania

Understanding the relationship between thermal comfort and adaptive behaviour in office environments is important for designing sustainable and occupant-centric buildings. This study investigates the thermal sensation, comfort preferences, and adaptive behaviours of occupants in five Indian and two Lithuanian offices. Indoor environmental parameters were measured, and online thermal comfort surveys were carried out. In total, 274 responses were collected. Differences between the two countries were observed in perception of the indoor thermal environment, comfort preferences, and adaptive behaviours. In the Indian offices, despite experiencing higher temperatures and relative humidity, most occupants reported feeling thermally neutral or slightly cool. In the Lithuanian offices (measured in the heating season), a third of the occupants felt slightly cool and another third slightly warm. Occupants in the Indian offices (limited direct access to temperature control, greater prevalence of business attire) showed a higher preference for adjusting the temperature. The occupants in the Lithuanian offices (access to temperature control, more flexible attire) preferred more frequently to adjust their clothing. Consumption of warm or cold beverages for thermal adaptation was equally preferred in the two countries. About 86% of the occupants who did not choose any adaptations reported being comfortable, compared to 65% of those who did. These findings highlight the associations between adaptive behaviour and thermal comfort, emphasising the need to consider individual preferences, environmental factors, and cultural norms in designing comfortable indoor environments.