Determinants of thermal comfort: analysis of public buildings in a post-transition context

Abstract

Due to an ongoing energy crisis and fluctuating energy prices, the prerequisites for maintaining optimal indoor environmental quality (IEQ), a critical determinant of productivity, cognitive performance, and overall well-being, have been significantly disrupted. This study focuses on examining determinants of thermal comfort, a subjective evaluation of the thermal environment and a key component of IEQ. Through a survey of employees and users of public buildings in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the research employs a four-stage regression analysis to identify the main predictors of thermal comfort. Although 71.33% of respondents report satisfaction with the heating system, only 43.13% find the heating to be adequate, with the optimal perceived temperature averaging 21.66°C. The results show that key factors influencing thermal comfort include thermal sensation, thermal memory, gender, and respondent type (employee versus user). These seminal results could offer valuable productivity and financial implications for energy savings, especially for budgetary policymakers aiming to reduce energy consumption as well as for public sector management and public institutions seeking to improve well-being and productivity.