researchers at the vtt technical research centre of finland are currently involved in the humantool project that is testing indoor temperature control concepts that adjust temperatures in spaces to meet individual needs, according to a report on the vtt website. 

vtt researchers are exploring automatic controls for changing room temperatures.
(wikimedia commons)

this concept would save on energy consumption (and homeowner costs) by leaving empty rooms unheated or uncooled depending on the season.

the article explained, “we spend around 90% of our time indoors. our experience of thermal sensation is important to productivity and comfort, and is mainly affected by a room's temperature level. the humantool project aims to enhance the comfort level of indoor temperatures, which affects the thermal comfort, health and well-being of a facility's users.”

the humantool project began in the fall of 2016 to test the practical implementation and development of a smart controller in hospital and office conditions during two heating and cooling seasons. the pilot sites include vtt’s headquarters, digitalo, in espoo and the seinäjoki central hospital and kuopio university hospital.

hospital testing will begin in the offices before moving to patient areas.

"we will use the human thermal model (htm) method developed by vtt. we will evaluate the thermal sensations of various user groups, which will be taken into account in the design of comfortable and energy-efficient buildings. because digital solutions for facility monitoring are now cost-efficient, we will use the latest technology for temperature control," says project manager pekka tuomaala of vtt.

researchers in this project are using the human thermal model (htm). according to vtt this means:

“people's evaluation of thermal sensation is based on individual anatomy and physiology. the htm method is used to assess the impact of individual characteristics – gender, age, body mass index and muscularity – on the volumes of various tissue types (bone, muscle, fat and skin). the transfer of warmth and moisture between a person's anatomy and clothing and the environment can help to determine the local temperature of body tissues. this can be used to calculate local thermal sensations in different parts of the body.”

vtt is hoping to have results ready for release by the end of 2018 and a product that could be used in various spaces, including automobiles.