CH-2434 (RP-118) -- Comfort and Cold and Warm Discomfort During Summer and Winter in Northern and Southern United States

The relative coolness of a 70°F day can be a welcome relief during a mid-summer heat wave.Similarily, its relative warmth serves as a harbinger of spring when it appears unexpectedly inthe winter, and each takes on a different meaning in the northern and southern latitudes. Thisobservation, coupled with the energy-saving recommendation, that a 68°F (20.0°C) thermostatreading be adopted for indoor environments during the winter served as the stimulus for thepresent study. In particular, we were curious how this recommendation would be accepted in thenorthern and southern United States. From this, the purpose was expanded to study the responsesof sedentary humans to cool, comfortable, and warm thermal environments during thesummer and winter months in the North and South.