Thermal Comfort and Gender: A Practical Study in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

Although there are many studies on thermal comfort and gender, the outcomes indicate clear differences regarding how both genders feel in the same thermal conditions. Many studies found no obvious differences in this regard at neutral temperatures. Others have found significant differences and have shown that females are more likely to express heat discomfort than men, especially in low temperatures and cold climates. While a few studies have shown that males are more likely to feel uncomfortable than females. This paper examines the effect of gender on the feeling of thermal comfort in the indoor environment. The study is based on thermal comfort analysis of a sample of 29 men and women distributed in 18 housing units in the same geographical area in Dammam. The responses of the sample group are presented as of ASHREA Feeling Scale, which is associated with indoor temperature and humidity. The paper examines the possible relationships between the levels of ASHREA Thermal Sensation, and four variables: gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and clothes index (clo) separately as independent variables, taking into account the daily lifestyle of the sample that may affect the feeling of comfort or discomfort. The study was carried out during the months of July and August 2018, in the normal lifestyle of the sample regarding turning the AC on or off as needed.