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Do we really need to be wearing jackets and sweaters indoors in Hawaii?
A University of Hawaii study found that the standard level of comfort for most state residents hovers around 77 degrees.
To help reduce energy consumption by decreasing the use of air conditioning at Kuykendall Hall, a building on the UH flagship Manoa campus, the school studied what temperatures would make people the most comfortable and how to create that environment.
The study found the ideal range of temperature, humidity and air motion for most Hawaii residents is what you find in the shade of a monkeypod tree, said Stephen Meder, interim assistant vice chancellor,
University of Hawaii-Manoa Planning and Facilities.
The range of comfort for 80 percent to 90 percent of the people who live in Hawaii usually falls between 73 to 83 degrees, Meder said.
“We live in a climate zone that is mostly comfortable. We don’t need refrigeration to make it cold,” he said.
