Urban human thermal comfort in hot and humid Hong Kong

In sub-tropical city of Hong Kong where summer is hot and humid, the usage of outdoor spaces is often hindered due to thermal discomfort. In order to improve the thermal comfort of the outdoor environment and to make urban outdoor spaces delightful places for people to use and enjoy, better understanding of the thermal perception of people is needed. This paper presents the results of an outdoor thermal comfort study conducted in Hong Kong. The findings of the study reveal that air temperature, wind speed and solar radiation intensity are influential factors in determining the thermal sensation of people outdoor. Based on our analysis, the neutral physiological equivalent temperature (PET) in summer in Hong Kong is around 28 °C. Under shaded condition, a wind speed of 0.9–1.3 m/s is needed for a person in light clothing to achieve neutral thermal sensation in an urban environment. This understanding can contribute towards establishing wind performance standards for thermal comfort in hot and humid tropical and sub-tropical cities.

► Air temperature, wind speed and solar radiation influence outdoor thermal comfort.
► The neutral physiological equivalent temperature in summer Hong Kong is about 28 °C.
► 0.9–1.3 m/s wind is needed for neutral thermal sensation under shaded condition.