PERCEPTION OF THERMAL COMFORT FACTORS IN OFFICE SPACES IN INDONESIA AND THEIR IMPACT ON COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE

• Main Author: Puspita, Feby
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/86090
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Global warming, which causes an increase in air temperature, is a current issue worldwide, including in Indonesia. The average air temperature in Indonesia exceeds 27°C, leading to thermal discomfort among individuals. This study aims to understand individuals' perceptions of the factors affecting thermal comfort and to examine the relationship between workplace environmental conditions, thermal comfort, and cognitive performance. Preliminary questionnaire completed by 296 respondents, more than 50% indicated that thermal comfort is influenced by air temperature, humidity, air velocity, type of activity, and clothing. These findings were validated through an experiment using a within-subject design. Twenty participants were exposed to four different environmental conditions with temperatures of 20°C and 25°C, humidity levels of RH55% and RH70%, and air velocities of 0 m/s and 0.5 m/s. During the 86-minute experiment, participants performed change blindness and counting tests representing cognitive functions of attention and memory. Additionally, subjective responses regarding cognitive effort (RSME), thermal sensation (TSV), and thermal comfort (TCV), as well as brain wave measurements using Muse EEG, were recorded for each participant. The results showed that different environmental conditions did not have a significant impact on cognitive performance or brain wave activity. This is likely due to the individual's ability to adapt to varying air temperatures, allowing them to maintain stable task performance. However, different environmental conditions did significantly affect subjective responses (RSME, TSV, and TCV). Condition 2, with an air temperature of 20°C, resulted in higher RSME scores, and participants experienced a "cool" sensation, leading to thermal discomfort. There were no significant differences in the average subjective questionnaire results across the other three environmental conditions. Therefore, it can be concluded that participants are primarily sensitive to changes in air temperature, and individuals in tropical countries tend to maintain work performance in cooler indoor conditions.