Impacts of thermal adaptive behaviors in bedrooms on sleep quality and thermal comfort in the tropics

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Kyohei Kondo, Teppei Tsuchiya, Takashi Asawa, Tomonori Sakoi, Tetsu Kubota, Sri Nastiti Nugrahani Ekasiwi, Usep Surahman, Mochamad Donny Koerniawan

2025 Building and Environment Vol. 279 Article Cited by 5 SDG 17SDG 3 Quartile

Abstract

This study examined how thermal adaptive behaviors in bedrooms, specifically air conditioning (AC) use, adjustments of sleepwear and bedding insulation, affect sleep quality and thermal comfort in tropical climates. Field measurements were conducted in the bedrooms of undergraduate and graduate students in two cities with different tropical climates: Bandung (Af) and Surabaya (Aw), Indonesia. Participants were mainly classified into three groups based on AC use and outdoor climate conditions: (1) AC users in Surabaya, (2) non-AC users in Surabaya and (3) non-AC users in Bandung. The results revealed that sleepwear insulation did not significantly differ between the AC and Non-AC groups in Surabaya, but the bedding insulation was higher in the AC group. In the Non-AC group, at temperatures above 28 °C, sleep efficiency was ensured with lower bedding insulation. In the AC group, although indoor temperatures were maintained between 24.5 °C and 26 °C, sleep efficiency was lower than that of the Non-AC group with similar bedding insulation. In the AC group, higher sleep efficiency was associated with greater bedding insulation. Moreover, thermal discomfort with cold-side sensations increased after sleep in the AC group, particularly below 26 °C, whereas thermal discomfort was less pronounced in the Non-AC group. Between the two cities, the Non-AC groups showed no differences in sleep efficiency. These findings highlight the overlooked role of thermal adaptations during sleep in tropical climates and underscore the need for sustainable bedroom strategies to enhance sleep quality and comfort to counterbalance the increasing use of AC in this region. © 2025

Affiliations

School of Environment and Society, Institute of Science Tokyo, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Kanagawa, Yokohama, 226-8502, Japan; Department of Textile Science and Technology, of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 3-15-1 Tokida, Nagano, Ueda, 386-8567, Japan; Institute of Textile Science and Technology, Academic Assembly, Shinshu University, 3-15-1 Tokida, Nagano, Ueda, 386-8567, Japan; of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-5-1 Kagamiyama, Hiroshima, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8529, Japan; Department of Architecture, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Jl. Teknik Kimia, Keputih, Kec. Sukolilo, Jawa Timur, Surabaya, 60111, Indonesia; Department of Architectural Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), Jl. Dr. Setiabudi No.229, Isola, Kec. Sukasari, Jawa Barat, Kota Bandung, 40154, Indonesia; Department of Architecture, Building Technology Research Group, School of Architecture, Planning, Policy Development, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Jl. GANESHA 10, Kecamatan Coblong, Jawa Barat, Kota Bandung, 40132, Indonesia

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