Previous research describes a model that can be used to assign economic cost to thermal discomfort. This is a subject of unquestionable importance to ASHRAE. More research is needed to establish the accuracy of this model so that it may gain acceptance as an economic analysis tool.

The results of this research will impact ASHRAE Standard 55 as follows. The model can be used to optimize building temperature to either minimizing total cost (energy plus service call cost) or to minimizing complaint frequency. These two temperatures could be used as a new basis for the upper and lower limits of the comfort zone. Unlike the existing upper and lower limits, these limits would have an economic basis.

The objective of this research project is to evaluate the accuracy of the complaint model recently proposed.