Evaluation of Indoor Thermal Environment and Air Quality in Stone Cave Dwellings in Northern Shanxi, China

Traditional stone cave dwellings in northern Shanxi exhibit distinct differences from conventional cave dwellings in terms of form and material, characterized by their freestanding stone-built structures that possess unique value. In the context of rapid urbanization, these dwellings encounter issues related to decreasing quantities and a lack of comprehensive systematic research. This research utilizes a mixed objective–subjective methodology to assess the indoor environment of the stone cave dwellings in Dongwa Village, Shuozhou City. Thermal comfort is evaluated using the PMV-PPD and TSV models, whereas air quality is assessed through gray correlation analysis. Results indicate: (1) The thermal inertia of stone cave dwellings’ envelopes significantly surpasses that of brick structures. However, their exterior wall and roof thermal conductance coefficients exceed national standard limits, respectively, by 4 times and 1.7 times; (2) The PMV thermal neutral temperature (21.32 °C) was notably higher than the TSV thermal neutral temperature (10.96 °C), suggesting that residents have developed cold adaptation. The thermal preference temperature (12.75 °C) exceeded the TSV value, reflecting strong resident demand for improvements; (3) Winter pollutant exceedance rates were markedly higher than those in summer, with air quality classified as experiencing “heavy pollution” levels. Residents reported a high level of subjective satisfaction, suggesting the presence of a cognitive bias. This study aims to reveal environmental issues in traditional local stone cave dwellings under modern residential demands, providing references for sustainable improvements in rural building environments.