Personal Cooling Systems for Enhanced Thermal Comfort and Sleep Quality
Loughborough UniversityLoughborough, United Kingdom
Course overview
Overheating in buildings is a growing threat to health and wellbeing of citizens. Overheating in bedrooms is of particular concern as during sleep occupants’ ability to take actions to adapt to heat is more limited. In many parts of the world air-conditioning (AC) is used to maintain thermally comfortable sleep environments.
The International Energy Agency predicts a significant increase in the uptake of AC units globally and in Europe between now and 2050. Research has shown that the bed microclimate has a greater effect on thermal comfort and sleep quality than the bedroom’s temperature. There is a potential to reduce the energy demand for cooling by using low-energy personal cooling strategies to minimise or eliminate the need for energy intensive AC.
Personal cooling is a rapidly developing area with new systems emerging. However, Credible, unbiased, documented evidence about their effectiveness to enhance thermal comfort and prevent sleep deprivation is needed if they are to be widely implemented. The aim of this project is to quantify the impact of state-of-the-art personal cooling systems on human thermal comfort and sleep quality and establish their optimised performance under various thermal conditions.
The project will use the newly refurbished full-scale thermal comfort test house facility at Loughborough University. The successful candidate will conduct controlled experiments using both advanced thermal manikins as well as human participants. The project outcomes will provide the knowledge for engineers and manufacturers to develop energy efficient personal cooling systems.
94% of Loughborough’s research impact is rated world-leading or internationally excellent. REF 2021
Key highlights
- Quantifies how personal cooling systems affect thermal comfort and sleep quality
- Uses a newly refurbished full-scale thermal comfort test house facility
- Controlled experiments with advanced thermal manikins and human participants
- Explores low-energy alternatives to energy-intensive air-conditioning in bedrooms
- Findings inform engineers and manufacturers developing energy-efficient cooling systems
Entry requirements
- Degree: 2:1 — 2:1
Scholarships
Alumni Bursary
10% of tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
Up to 10% of feesAlumni Discount
UK students: £1,500 tuition fee discount for one academic year. International students: £3,000 tuition fee discount for one academic year.
Care Leaver's Scholarship
Excellence Scholarships
UK students: £3,000 off tuition fees; International students: £6,000 off tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
International Sports Student Postgraduate Bursary
Our International Sports Student Postgraduate Bursary offers a £12,000 tuition fee discount (set against the tuition fees of your chosen postgraduate taught programme ONLY).
Up to £12,000London 10th Anniversary Award
£5,000 off tuition fees.
Up to £5,000Loughborough Business School Scholarship
£1,500 (UK students) and £3,000 (international students) off tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
MBA Progress with Purpose Scholarship
50% of tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
Up to 50% of feesQatari Ghanim Al-Muftah Excellence Scholarship
Careers this course leads to
- Building physics researcher
- Thermal comfort engineer
- Building services engineer
- Energy efficiency consultant
- Product development engineer (HVAC and cooling systems)
- Postdoctoral research associate
Cost of study
UK/Home: £5,238 | International: £29,500
Admission
Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to Loughborough University, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.
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