It may be millions of years since our human ancestors evolved in Africa, but we still like our homes to feel distinctly sub-Saharan, a new study has found.

Researchers in the US collected information about the temperature and humidity of 37 homes across North America throughout a year.

In winter, most homes were heated to minimum average temperature of 46F to 71F (8C to 22C), while in summer the mean maximum was between 71F to 96F (22 and 36C).

After studying climates of countries across the world, scientists found that the seasonal temperature and humidity ranges most closely mapped those of Baringo County, Kenya, which is located in the Rift Valley, the birthplace of mankind.

The researchers from North Carolina State University believe that people may be instinctively recreating the climate of their forebears.

Writing in Royal Society Open Science, lead author Dr Michael Just, of North Carolina State University, said: “Human preferences influence human houses. Our houses are built to reflect both comfortable temperatures and levels of humidity.

“If our house is too hot or cold, we modify it in such a way as to produce more heat and vice versa.

“The location with the most similar climate was located in west central Kenya. In west central Kenya, outdoor conditions are essentially the same as the mean conditions created inside homes in North America.”