Abstract Whole person adaptive comfort is discussed with reference to recent findings in molecular scale systems biology. The observations are upscaled to hypotheses relat- ing to less traditional interpretations of thermal processes, which have new implications for indoor climate manage- ment and design. Arguments are presented for a revision of current focus, model and paradigm. The issue is seen as a problem of integrating theoretical development, conceptual modeling and as an investigation of the extent to which environments and acclimatization can be used to achieve individual fitness and health, not only at the subjective comfort level, as hitherto promoted. It is argued that there are many questions yet to be asked about adaptability before celebrating a particular adaptive state.
Keywords Adaptive comfort . ASHRAE standards . Indoor design . Systems biology . Molecular scale adaptation . Cell energy . Shock proteins . Gene expression . Acclimatization . Transduction . Scale integration . Adaptability model