Macquarie University's ASHRAE RP-884 Adaptive Model Project - The Adaptive Model Concept
The human body maintains thermal equilibrium with its environment by means of phsyiological thermoregulation (sweating, shivering etc). Beyond these automatic processes, there is a suite of responses which enable building occupants to adapt to indoor and outdoor climates by means of behavioral adjustments (clothing, windows, fans etc), physiological adaptations (acclimatisation), and psychological adjustments (expectations).
The image above depicts the effects of fully exploiting this adaptability in thermal perception in terms of temperature settings indoors, their relationships with outdoor climate. The objective of diminishing the thermal gradient between indoors and outdoors serves the dual purposes reducing energy consumption in buildings and also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.