Indoor thermal inequities and adaptive strategies in student housing: a gender-based analysis from Ghana

Purpose Amid rising global temperatures and resource constraints among developing economies, this study investigates gender-based variations in thermal comfort preferences and their impact on energy-related behaviours in Ghanaian university housing. Grounded in Gender Schema Theory, the research explores how thermal discomfort influences behavioural adaptation and social interactions. Design/methodology/approach The study used a cross-sectional survey of 735 university students across several campuses in Ghana. Quantitative analyses included independent-sample t-tests and multiple linear regression, with gender incorporated as an interaction term to evaluate moderation effects. Findings The results reveal that female students preferred warmer indoor temperatures more than males and engaged in thermally adaptive behaviours more frequently. Discomfort was indeed exacerbated, particularly among female occupants, by environmental determinants such as limited clothing insulation (mean Clo = 0.6), low air velocity (mean = 0.33 m/s), elevated relative humidity (mean = 78%) and high indoor temperatures (mean = 31.7 °C). These conditions contributed to an increase in thermal stress and sedentary activity levels (Met = 1.3), which also occurred. Research limitations/implications Female students demonstrated greater behavioural responsiveness toward these environmental stressors, which validated the limitations of prevailing male-centric thermal models and underscored the need for gender-sensitive approaches to indoor environmental design and management. Social implications Inclusive thermal comfort strategies may enhance social cohesion and promote equitable energy practices in student housing management. Originality/value This study introduces a gender-sensitive framework to the discourse on thermal comfort, advocating adaptive ventilation systems, preference-based roommate matching and participatory energy governance.