Changes in thermal comfortable condition in the Qinghai‒Tibet Plateau from 1979 to 2020

Qinghai‒Tibet Plateau(QTP)is one of the most sensitive regions to climate change in the world.As a result,people in the QTP are more likely to be sensitively affected by climate change than those in other regions,particularly in the poverty area.Using the Universal Thermal Climate Index(UTCI)derived from ERA5 and population data,changes in annual thermal comfort condition and population under such condition in the QTP are systematically analyzed.The results reveal that there is considerable regional heterogeneity in the distribution of UTCI and the number of comfortable days(CDs),mainly due to the complex geographic features.In most areas of the QTP,the increase in UTCI leads to an increased number of comfortable days.Spatial distribution and temporal change in the number of comfortable days are found to be principally related to altitude.In areas within altitudes of 3000–4500 m,the number of comfortable days increases by up to 6 d per decade,which is faster than that in higher elevation areas above 4500 m.Results also indicate that thermal comfortable condition has improved in areas of 2500–5000 m(medium to high altitude),particularly in spring and autumn.Further research indicates that population distribution also shows a regional clustering feature,with the majority of residents residing in cities and their vicinities,where a higher number of comfortable days were observed.Most areas with a greater number of comfortable days have experienced a more significant increase in population under thermal comfortable conditions.It implies that climate change more likely has a large influence on population in the QTP.These findings are expected to enhance tourism development and the assessment of the impact on the living environment.The findings can be helpful for optimizing of tourism development and better understanding how climate change affects population distribution.

Do Well to Dwell Well. Awareness as the Driver for the Behaviour of Tomorrow’s Citizens

Because of the impact of global warming,the Earth’s ecosystems are currently at a critical stage.The European building sector,and the residential element in particular,is responsible for the largest portion of energy enduse.Although we know how to build a perfectly engineered house,it will not work properly if its inhabitants do not know how to run it.“Well-educated”dwellers can really improve energy use.The aim of this research is to optimize the users’role in the energy reduction process,analysing as a case study,Dwell!,the monitoring system designed for“RhOME for denCity”,the housing prototype developed by Roma Tre University and winner of the“Solar Decathlon Europe”competition in 2014.

Indoor environmental quality(IEQ)assessment of Nigerian university libraries:A pilot study

An indoor environmental quality(IEQ)assessment of academic libraries in Nigeria was conducted through ob-jective measurements.The selected university libraries were Abubakar Gimba Library;Awwal Ibrahim Library;and Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida Library Complex.The libraries were evaluated under operating conditions and during their peak usage periods.Measurements of the main descriptors of good IEQ,including the acoustical,visual,and thermal comfort conditions were performed using portable IEQ meters.The methodology employed for the assessment of these IEQ descriptors followed prescriptions of international standards ASHRAE standard 55 and ISO 7730.To determine the time of the day in which the library buildings can achieve optimum IEQ,measurements were taken in the morning and afternoon.The results obtained were compared with reference values found in the international Standard CIBSE Guide A for adequate IEQ compliance of academic libraries.The findings of this study are expected to help in improving the IEQ of academic libraries in Nigeria and other parts of the world.