Personalized Environmental Control Systems (Pecs): Systematic Review of Benefits for Thermal Comfort, Air Quality, Health, and Human Performance

Advancements in environmental technologies and standardization have significantly improved indoor environmental quality (IEQ) by promoting steady and uniform conditions. However, these approaches often fall short in meeting individual thermal comfort needs and ensuring healthy air quality, revealing their limitations and prompting a shift toward more adaptive, personalized solutions. This has driven interest in Personalized Environmental Control Systems (PECS), an emerging field with the potential to enhance comfort, air quality, human health and productivity through user-centered solutions. This paper presents a systematic review of 324 journal articles on PECS, focusing on thermal and indoor air quality (IAQ), published over the last 25 years, between 1988 and 2023. It classifies PECS technologies by mobility type (e.g., building-attached, semi-attached, detached, and wearable) and evaluates their impact on thermal comfort, IAQ, health outcomes (e.g., reducing Sick Building Syndrome and heat stress), and human performance (e.g., cognitive function and productivity). Findings indicate that PECS generally improve thermal sensation, comfort, and acceptability, particularly when user control is enabled. Personalized ventilation systems also enhance IAQ by delivering clean air directly to the breathing zone, reducing contaminant exposure. Research on the effects of PECS on human health remains limited, focusing mainly on short-term outcomes in controlled settings. The few studies on human performance suggest potential benefits for cognitive and psychological functioning, though evidence is sparse. Challenges include inconsistent performance metrics, limited field evaluations, and a tendency toward reporting only positive results, pointing to possible publication bias. This systematic review underscores the need for standardized evaluation methods for PECS.