P-20 Physiological and Subjective Responses in the Elderly When Using Floor Heating and Air Conditioning Systems-A Study in a Purpose built Experimental House

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a floor heating (condition F) and an air conditioning system (condition A) on thermal responses in the elderly in a purposebuilt experimental house. Subjects were nine elderly men and nine male university students. The air temperature at sitting head height in condition A was 27℃, and the maximum difference in vertical air temperature was 5℃. The air and floor temperatures in condition F were 23℃ and 29℃, respectively. Trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) at cheek increased in condition A and there was significant difference in TEWL between conditions A and F Moreover, instep and sole skin temperatures related significantly to thermal comfort in elderly subjects, whereas this relationship was not found in young subjects. However there was no significant difference in thermal responses under conditions A and F between elderly and young subjects. These results were similar to those we obtained through evaluation in a chamber and reported previously.