The Impact of Adaptive Micro-zoning on Students’ Perception of Energy Efficiency and Comfort in Student Housing in Ghana

Abstract

Adaptive micro-zoning has attracted attention as a strategy to improve thermal comfort. However, there remains a gap in assessing the perceived energy efficiency of student housing in tropical regions. Consequently, this study examines how adaptive micro-zoning influences students' perceived thermal comfort and energy efficiency in on-campus student housing in Ghana. The study used a cross-sectional survey design, in which a total of 923 students were selected from two on-campus student housing units and two micro-zoned housing units in the southern and northern parts of Ghana. Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman’s Rank Correlation, and ordinal logistic regression were used to assess group differences and identify predictors of perceived energy efficiency. The analysis revealed that students in micro-zoned housing reported considerably higher thermal comfort and more positive perceptions of energy efficiency, although the differences were moderate. Thermal comfort emerged as the strongest predictor of perceived energy efficiency, while zoning responsiveness and lighting quality contributed moderately. These results suggest that students do not perceive comfort solely through temperature control but also through environmental factors in multisensory, interactive ways. The study suggests that educating users, utilising adaptive lighting, accommodating temporal and cultural variations in occupancy behaviour, and simplifying the metering interface are significant factors for enhancing micro-zoning adaptation in tropical regions.