Abstract
Introduction: Appropriate use of air-conditioner will not only lead comfortable indoor air but also prevent from heat stroke. We can see these information on Guidelines or weather forecast. On the other hand, we know the use of air-conditioner is a cause of high electricity bills. Parent/child, age and sex have effect on these decisions such as on/off or set temperature. For example, metabolism of elders is lower than that of younger people. This is the reason why elders set lower temperature than the younger people. Many and complex functions are loaded on the air-conditioner. That is also the one of the reason why elderly do not like to use of air-conditioner.
In a past, a lot of researches were done about the relationship between use of air-conditioning and age, sex. They were based on physiological and psychological knowledge. This study aims to analyze the relationship between behavior of use of air-conditioner and physiological and psychological differences.
Method: I commissioned a private school to distribute questionnaires. In the questionnaire, a respondent requested to choice room type, age range, set temperature, reasons why you use air-conditioner and why not. As the reason why you use air-conditioner, I showed several reasons such as “Hot” “Humid” and “No wind”. As the reason why you do not use air-conditioner, I showed several reasons such as “Not hot” “Not humid” “Wind” “High electricity expense”. Also I asked to answer the set temperature that respondent usually use.
I commissioned a private school to distribute 100 questionnaires to households where teenagers are living. Questionnaires were distributed in July or August and that were collected in August or September.
Result and Discussion: 77% of distributed questionnaire were collected. These questionnaire included 203 air-conditioner units. About the half of air-conditioner was mainly used by male or female. Room type had no influence to the set temperature. “Hot” is the main reason why the air-conditioner was used. “Humid” is the next. “Not hot” was the main reason why air-conditioner was not used. “Not humid” was the next. Average set temperature was about 26.7°C. Air-conditioner users decides to use AC at the temperature of 30.2°C. Air-conditioner users set temperature at 26.4°C.
Conclusion: Survey about actual condition of use of air-conditioners was analyzed on following 3 aspects.
1. There were no-difference on the set temperature between male/female and types of the room.
2. Average set temperature was about 26.7°C.
3. Air-conditioner users decides to use AC at the temperature of 30.2°C. Air-conditioner users set temperature at 26.4°C.
4. The main factors of the use of AC is high temperature and humidity. The main factors of the not-use of AC is bearable temperature/humidity, airflow and high electric bill.
