Thermal comfort standards and building energy use in Philippine office environments

Comfort has become synonymous with the consumption of applied energy. As global concern about the environment increases (e.g. consumption of scarce and diminishing energy resources), it is timely to look into the relationship between comfort practices in the built environment engendered by comfort standards and building energy use, particularly in office buildings. This paper builds on the findings of the thermal comfort field study carried out in air conditioned office buildings in Makati City (Manila), Philippines to investigate the applicability of the universal values of comfort temperatures recommended by international comfort standards. It reports on how the comfort preferences and perception of the Filipino office workers bear on building energy use and consumption and the consequent societal implications