A dataset from a coordinated multi-site laboratory study investigating the Hue-Heat-Hypothesis

Abstract

Understanding cross-modal environmental perception is essential for improving occupant well-being and human-centric building design. This paper presents an open-access, multi-site database developed under the IEA-EBC Annex 79 project to test the Hue-Heat Hypothesis (HHH), which hypothesizes that light hue may influence thermal perceptions. The database comprises 543 experimental rounds conducted in eight laboratories across six countries and diverse climate zones, following a shared, rigorously designed protocol. During summer and winter campaigns, participants were exposed to controlled thermal environments and counterbalanced lighting conditions (neutral, reddish, bluish). The database includes detailed metadata on environmental variables, physiological measurements (i.e., heart rate and skin temperature), and self-reported perceptual responses. It also provides standardized technical documentation for each test room, including the detailed experimental protocol and translated survey instruments. All materials are available on the Open Science Framework under the “Multi-site Hue-Heat-Hypothesis Testing” repository. This resource supports research into multi-domain human comfort, enabling analysis of cross-modal and combined effects on human perception and physiological reactions.