Analyzing the Impact of Smart Window Tinting on Human Thermal and Visual Comfort in Summer Using Measurements and Surveys

This study analyzed the impact of smart window tinting on thermal and visual comfort during summer based on experimental data. Smart windows were installed in an apartment building, and experiments were conducted in July and August 2023. Sixteen participants completed surveys every 10 minutes during the tests. The thermal comfort survey (TSV) assessed occupants' thermal sensations using the same scale as the predicted mean vote (PMV). The visual comfort survey measured brightness perception and satisfaction on a 7-point scale. Participants stayed in a test room equipped with either a smart window or a normal window. The thermal comfort experiments included two cases: T1 with an initial setup of 26°C and T2 with an initial setup of 30°C. The visual comfort experiments included Case V1 on an overcast day and Case V2 on a sunny day. The thermal comfort experiments showed that dry-bulb temperature, globe temperature, PMV, and TSV increased less in the smart window room, indicating that occupants felt cooler both objectively and subjectively when the smart windows were tinted. In the visual comfort experiments, the smart window room did not experience glare, but it failed to meet the minimum illuminance level. Additionally, occupants' brightness perception and satisfaction were lower compared to the room with normal windows.