Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Extending the adaptive thermal comfort models for courtyards

Diz-Mellado, Eduardo, López-Cabeza, Victoria Patricia, Rivera-Gómez, Carlos, Galán-Marín, Carmen, Rojas-Fernández, Juan, Nikolopoulou, Marialena (2021) Extending the adaptive thermal comfort models for courtyards. Building and Environment, 203 . Article Number 108094. ISSN 0360-1323. (doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108094) (KAR id:89795)

Abstract

Temperatures in Mediterranean cities are rising due to the effects of climate change, with a consequent increase in the heat waves frequency. Recent research has shown the tempering potential of semi-outdoor spaces such as courtyards, which are semi-enclosed spaces that are widely used by the users of buildings in Mediterranean cities. International standards addressing thermal comfort parameters provide technical guidelines for indoor spaces only. Expanding this concept, this paper focuses on the potential to extend and interpret the existing calculation models for indoor thermal comfort, EN 16798 and ASHRAE 55, to determine thermal comfort, monitoring two different courtyards in Cordoba, Spain, during both typical summer and heat wave periods. The results show that during the typical summer, the monitored courtyards can reach temperatures up to 8.4 °C cooler than outside. Subsequently can be considered to be in thermal comfort on average for 88% of the time according to EN 16798, and 75% according to ASHRAE 55, which drop to 71% and 52% respectively during heat wave (HW) periods, in spite of increasing thermal gap (TG) up to 13.9 °C. The results are also compared with the PET indicator used for evaluation of outdoor thermal comfort, which provides comparable figures: 81% summer and 73% HW. Implications of implementing passive shading strategies to increase comfort in these transition spaces are also evaluated. The research highlights the thermal potential and usefulness of courtyards in warm climates, so they can ultimately be included in the building analysis as a potentially comfortable and habitable space.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108094
Uncontrolled keywords: Climate resilience; Microclimate; Adaptive thermal comfort; PET; Comfort data interpretation; Courtyards
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Arts and Humanities > Kent School of Architecture and Planning
Depositing User: Marialena Nikolopoulou
Date Deposited: 16 Aug 2021 08:16 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 16:40 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/89795 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Nikolopoulou, Marialena.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0528-2145
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.