Collaboration on energy technology research and development through the International Energy Agency (IEA) contributes to the economic development, energy security and environmental protection objectives of Member countries. The IEA Energy Technology Collaboration Programme provides a framework for experts to work co-operatively and share results. The benefits typically include sharing costs, pooling resources , and avoiding unproductive research paths. Further, participants are able to spread the risks associated with the choice of research priorities .

The paper presents some of the findings from a broader investigation aimed at determining thermal comfort design conditions for combined chilled ceiling/ displacement ventilation environments. A typical chilled ceiling/ displacement ventilation office has been created within a laboratory test room, in which the ceiling temperature can be varied over a range of typical operating values; the thermal comfort of eight female test subjects was then measured in the test room over the range of ceiling temperatures.