Assessing thermal risk in urban areas an application for the urban agglomeration of Athens

Assessing thermal risk in urban areas is essential, as this can have major implications to human health and may influence quality of life in urban areas as well as the urban microclimate. Such assessment is promoted by estimating Land Surface Temperature (LST), evaluating the intensity of Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) and the variation of the discomfort index (DI), the latter reflecting the most common bioclimatic index used for outdoor thermal comfort applications.

Assessing building performance in use 4: the Probe occupant surveys and their implications.

The main findings from the Probe occupant surveys are assessed. The emphasis is on the consequences for strategic thinking on how best to design and manage buildings to improve conditions for occupants and users, taking examples from the Probe studies. Comfort, health and productivity of occupants are positively associated statistically; and all are easily undermined by chronic, low-level problems.