Effectiveness of a cool bed linen for thermal comfort and sleep quality in air-conditioned bedroom under hot-humid climate

• Main Authors: Zaki, S. A., Rosli, M. F., Rijal, O. B., Sadzli, F. N. H., Hagishima, A., Yakub, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021
• Subjects: T Technology (General)
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/95355/1/SheikhAhmadZaki2021_EffectivenessofaCoolBedLinen.pdf; http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/95355/; http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su13169099
• Institution: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Comfort temperature and sleep quality involving 20 participants were determined in two cases: Case A (arbitrary, controlled air-conditioner setting) and Case B (adjustment of 3 °C higher than the setting of Case A with cool bed linen). Data of indoor thermal comfort and electricity consumption were collected every night throughout the measurement period. Questionnaires on thermal comfort and sleep quality were distributed twice a night for a duration of three nights for each case; the first night was for respondents’ adaptation and the following two nights were for meas-urement. The sleep quality of the respondents was objectively measured using a commercially available activity tracker. Results found that most respondents were thermally comfortable in both cases, with 39% lower energy consumption reported for Case B compared to Case A. The thermal conditions of Case B were found to be more tolerable than those of Case A. Most respondents reported to have a calm and satisfied sleep for both cases. Comfort temperature and Sleep Efficiency Index (SEI) were found to be maintained in both cases.