Changes and Issues in Research on the Evaluation of the Indoor Thermal Environment of Houses in Japan from the Viewpoint of a Warmth-Preservation Lifestyle

Abstract

Research on the thermal comfort of houses in Japan has developed mainly in some parts of the field of architectural environmental engineering. It is believed to have its roots in the hygienic sciences that sought to improve the poor living conditions of urban residents during the Industrial Revolution in the United Kingdom. In 1964, a part of the architectural planning theory field was renamed to architectural environmental engineering, but the majority of the research conducted was related to environmental physics. In the early days, research on the sensation of temperature and comfort was mainly based on diagrammatic stimulus-response (S-R) research. Later, the research framework was expanded to include the development from human sensation and perception to cognition, multisensory research, occupant behavior, and social psychological aspects.

Historically, Japanese housing has been characterized by low thermal insulation and airtightness, which has led to a warmth-preservation lifestyle for the occupants. The persistence of the idea that “even in the house, it is cold in winter ” has persisted even in recent years. Massabuau, J. P. observed that in regard to Japanese housing, the function of heat and cold protection has been neglected and extreme priority has been given to simplicity and aesthetics. In Japan, there is definitely a tendency to regard a warm environment in winter as a luxury, and this may be a disincentive to promote the insulation and airtightness of houses.

Furthermore, we included discussions on the importance of cultural perspectives in future research in this field.