Comfort Considerations in Net ZEBs: Theory and Design - Modeling, Design, and Optimization of Net-Zero Energy Buildings - page 106

Fig. 3.1 Interactions between forms of comfort and building energy use
with examples
Conventionally, thermal comfort has been considered a function of four
environmental variables (air temperature, mean radiant temperature,
relative humidity, and air speed) and two personal variables (metabolic
activity and clothing level). Using an energy balance of the human body,
comfort levels are predicted based on laboratory-based experiments and
occupant ratings of comfort. A newer approach, known as adaptive thermal
comfort, acknowledges that occupants tend to attempt to control the indoor
environmental variables to restore comfort. Designing buildings according
to comfort ranges suggested by adaptive comfort models generally predicts
lower energy use as long as convenient, responsive, and effective means
for occupants to improve their environment are available (e.g., operable
windows).
Perspectives on visual comfort have also evolved recently due to renewed
emphasis on daylighting as an important approach to reducing energy use