Heatwaves

This study examines the impact of heatwaves on indoor operative temperatures of dwellings in Pamplona (north of Spain) and presents a comparative analysis of a typical summer and two extreme summers with heatwaves in 2003 and 2022. The assessment was conducted in two neighbourhoods with different urban morphologies and built periods related to different energy regulations in Spain. EnergyPlus was used to simulate each residential typology for 5 months in 8 different orientations and with the constructive characteristics that correspond to its built period.

Airtight, highly insulated, and passively cooled buildings in the EU are designed under typical outdoor and indoor thermal conditions. With increasing risk and uncertainty with regards to climate change and associated heatwaves(HW), the design thermal performance of these buildings is not guaranteed. It is crucial to focus on improving thermal resilience to overheating and futureproof these buildings. “Thermal resilience to overheating” is the characteristic that describes the extent to which buildings and their cooling strategies can maintain habitable conditions during or post shocks.

Airtight and highly insulated buildings are subjected to overheating risks, even in moderate climates, due to unforeseeable events like frequent heatwaves and power outages. Educational buildings share a major portion of building stocks and a large percentage of the energy is expended in maintaining thermal comfort in these buildings. Overheating risks in educational buildings can lead to heat-stress and negatively impact the health conditions and also cognitive performance of the occupants.

In the context of climate change, Building Performance Simulations are used to assess the ability of passive buildings to maintain acceptable comfort conditions, or to limit the air conditioning energy consumption during heatwaves. Climate projection data, including heatwaves, are needed to feed the Building Performance Simulation tools. A building, located in a given location, is likely to experience several heatwaves with different characteristics in the coming decades.