A CASE STUDY ON THE THERMAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE LIVING ROOM AND THE RESIDENTS' STYLE OF LIVING IN AND AROUND KYOTO CITY DURING WINTER : Characteristic usage of heating devices and seating type in the home

The relationships between the indoor thermal environment and residents' behavior in 15 houses in and around Kyoto city were investigated during winter. The results are summarized as follows: (1) Residents controlled the indoor thermal environment just in those limited areas of the house in which they spend the majority of their time. (2) The air temperature in the living room was found to be dependent upon seating type. This was observed most clearly al the level just above the floor surface. When residents are resting in the living room, those who are sitting on the floor without kotatsu need the air temperature higher than 18℃, while those who use chairs need higher than 14 ℃.