On the necessities to analyse the thermohygrometric perception in aged people. A review about indoor thermal comfort, health and energetic aspects and a perspective for future studies

This study wants to examine the current bibliography concerning the thermohygrometric perception in aged people living in industrialized countries and its socio-economic consequences. Nowadays the number of European people between 70 and 90 years old is increasing, thus causing an aging of the average population. A proper and modern planning of indoor environments in residential buildings requires the presence of a good thermohygrometric comfort together with a low energy consumption level. The most common comfort indexes are the PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) and PPD (Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied) provided by Fanger’s studies. Aged people present different demands with respect to the planning values suggested by Fanger. In particular, old people tend to live alone with a lower basal metabolic rate than active subjects and they are usually affected by pathologies provoked by the age. Medical studies revealed that pathologies might even be determined by indoor environmental conditions. Hence in order to have actual indoor comfort conditions able to satisfy aged people (especially during winter) different thermohygrometric values are required. This is why a higher energy demand is required and an optimization process should be performed to reduce the costs. Such condition will affect the future welfare of different countries.