Perceived control boosts winter comfort, reduces energy use in Chinese homes.
The study looked at how people's sense of control affects their comfort in different temperatures. They studied residents in China during winter, comparing those with central heating to those with air conditioners. They found that people with more control over their environment felt more comfortable. In a controlled experiment, they saw that people with control felt more comfortable at different temperatures compared to those without control. This suggests that giving people more control over their heating can make them more comfortable and save energy.