Outdoor Thermal Comfort

Outdoor spaces are becoming increasingly unliveable, and it is necessary to reverse the trend to make urban areas comfortable, both environmentally and psychologically. In this regard, it is important to simultaneously control the different parameters that contribute to the livability of these spaces.

In our R&D Unit, we support the design process with an integrated system of software simulations (ENVI-met and Ladybug Tools), to provide the maximum comfort level of indoor and outdoor spaces. Data on climate change projections (e.g., considering an IPCC RCP8.5 scenario projected to 2050) are used to conduct an assessment that specifically examines the impact of climate change on the microclimate and urban heat island effect. This assessment examines the likelihood of climate events versus their potential impact in the present and future.

According to the literature, thermal comfort is the condition of mind that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment. Achieving thermal comfort in a space is essential to ensuring a high-quality experience. Several different factors impact a person’s thermal sensation – including environmental and personal factors. In our projects, we evaluate the comfort taking into consideration the possible strategies to increase it, for example: evapotranspiration of plants, evaporative cooling of water, building shading, wind permeability, etc. Thanks to these strategies it’s possible to reach a positive impact on the outdoor spaces, quantifiable by a significant reduction in users’ perceived temperature.