Dear users I have found a great source for quantifying the average metabolic rate for almost every human activity I could think of: The Compendium of Physical Activities. However the values in this document are often much higher than the ones encountered in standard building literature (which are already considered as aimed at HVAC sizing and thus as high values for energy analysis). For instance for the activity “Filing, standing” they propose 2.3 met VS 1.4 met in Ashrae Fundamentals (where I also read that the uncertainty is rather low for well defined activities under 1.5 met). For “Reading, seated”: 1.3 VS 1 met in Ashrae. I consider that the given values of metabolic rate correspond to the actual rate of heat production (under the assumptions that the mechanical efficiency of muscular work is very low and that the mechanical work will anyhow end up as heat in buildings). However I am not quite familiar with the underlying physics and I may miss something here. Has anyone of you been using these values before? Or maybe a good insight to share? Best regards -- Antoine Gautier |