Roots and mechanisms of thermal comfort expectations: from individuals' own background to adaptation and change

The notion of thermal comfort has evolved through time, being the answer to various changes and influences in the built environment. Despite the common engineering definition, with measured ideal conditions matching with a state of neutrality, the concept is far more complex and requires a holistic multidisciplinary approach. Two main aspects are pivotal in the concept of comfort: expectation and adaptation, which depend themselves on several diversity-driving factors. However, their influence is nowadays generally neglected in buildings’ design and operation, and standards. The aim of this work is to understand and acknowledge, by means of a literature analysis, the different aspects that contribute to the inner workings of thermal comfort expectations and adaptation. The paper addresses all the different dynamics constituting the users’ thermal background and their attitudes towards the indoor environment. Only an in deep understanding of the possible differences between different users’ expectation and adaptation mechanisms will trigger an informed human-centric design process.