Summer thermal comfort

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.

It has been demonstrated that there is a strong relationship between occupant behaviour and the thermal performance of dwellings. At the same time, some aspects of this behaviour, especially with respect to natural ventilation, constitute some of the most important sources of uncertainty in the field of building energy simulation.