An international partnership between the University of Sydney, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Waseda University (Japan), and the Technical University of Denmark has launched an ambitious project to create a next-generation thermal comfort index, one that recognises individual differences and supports fairer, more energy-efficient workplaces worldwide.
The collaboration will combine large-scale field studies, human-subject experiments, and advanced data modelling to move beyond the outdated "average person" model that underpins today's comfort standards. The goal: a modern, inclusive index that reflects how people feel in real offices ensuring improving comfort, well-being, and productivity while cutting energy waste.
"For forty years, buildings have been tuned to suit an average person who doesn't really exist," said Professor Emeritus Richard de Dear , School of Architecture, Design and Planning .
"This collaboration is about measuring real people, in real workplaces, and building an index that recognises individual differences. It's good for people and good for the planet."
Professor Emeritus Richard de Dear, School of Architecture, Design and Planning.
The new international index will provide a consistent, evidence-based standard for designers, engineers, and regulators across regions and climates.
Key benefits include:
- Fairness - comfort standards that suit diverse people, not just the "average.
- Global consistency - shared criteria for multinational organisations.
- Efficiency - fewer complaints and less wasted energy.
- Clarity - stronger, simpler rules for certification and compliance.
Dr Thomas Parkinson , research lead at the University of Sydney's Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Lab, said the team is not trying to create separate temperature targets for men and women, but rather a smarter, inclusive system.
"Our goal is a single, adaptive index that learns from context - what the person is doing, what the room is doing - and predicts how they'll feel. That's how we make comfort fairer and smarter at scale," Dr Parkinson said.
The University of Sydney's IEQ Lab is a world leader in human-centred building science, with research spanning thermal comfort, air quality, and building performance analytics. Its findings inform international standards, rating systems, and building codes across Asia, Europe, and the US.
About the project
The model integrates physical conditions (temperature, humidity, airflow) with personal factors (clothing, activity, physiology) to predict how individuals feel in a space. Over time, feedback data will refine predictions to enhance comfort and efficiency.
How do you adapt offices for men and women?
Rather than hard-coding different setpoints by gender, the goal is an inclusive environment that lets individuals dial in comfort. That means more personal control (desk fans, foot-warmers, task chairs with local conditioning, small radiant panels), smart zoning to create cooler and warmer micro-areas, and flexible clothing norms.
Will there be different indicators for men and women?
No. The index focuses on direct drivers of comfort - clothing, activity, physiology, recent temperature history, and personal control actions. Gender could be contextual information, but only as one of many inputs and never as a stereotype.
What's the timeframe?
The research period will be extended annually as required by the study design and international standards process. Interim findings will be shared through conferences and media releases along the way.
