Thermal comfort and conservation conditions in a historic living museum: a case study of a vicarage

Purpose This paper aims to examine thermal comfort and conservation conditions in a historic living museum by evaluating the indoor environmental conditions of the Vicarage, situated in a historic area of the northeastern USA. The study’s primary objective is to assess and understand the conservation environment and thermal comfort of historic living museums. It uses thermal comfort models to evaluate comfortable temperatures, thermal sensations and thermal indices within the spaces. The historic village serves as a living museum, reflecting the lifestyles of rural New England residents during the 18th and 19th centuries. Design/methodology/approach The research involves conducting physical measurements in selected buildings to assess thermal comfort and conservation conditions in one of these structures. The study focuses on the Vicarage due to its importance to the village and its representation of historical residences in that region of New England. The primary source of heating during the cold winter months is the fireplace, while the building naturally ventilates in the warm season. Findings The average temperatures and relative humidity in the heated spaces ranged from 17.6 °C to 19.0 °C and from 47.6% to 60.8%, respectively. The mean temperature in an unheated space (i.e. without access to a fireplace) was 14.0 °C. The average air velocity varied from 0.03to 0.18 m/s due to the limited hours the windows remained open during the survey. This investigation highlights the following finding: spaces directly connected to the heating source are more comfortable than those that are not. The average clothing insulation (clo) values of individuals emulating 18th and 19th-century lifestyles exceed the clo values reported in recent research for the same season. Spaces with direct access to the fireplace have fewer people with a dissatisfied perception than those without this access. Practical implications The research can guide owners and managers of historic sites, such as living museums, on essential aspects to improve the performance of these buildings. The research also provides insights into the thermal environment of living museums and offers strategies to enhance their conservation conditions. Originality/value This study offers further insights into thermal comfort and conservation conditions in historic buildings, thereby enhancing the understanding of how occupants’ perceptions, adaptations and comfort within indoor environments have evolved. Moreover, the study examines various modifications or strategies (e.g. using dehumidifiers to reduce RH below 60%, using light-colored surfaces to increase lighting levels, etc.) that could be explored for living museums, while also assessing the associated challenges (such as the risk of molds, low lighting levels, etc.) that impact the comfort and conservation conditions of such buildings. The research provides valuable insights into past lifestyles and the adaptive strategies people used to cope with varying thermal environments across different seasons, including extreme weather conditions.