The influence of bioclimatic urban redevelopment on outdoor thermal comfort.

Abstract

One of the greatest environmental challenges for the sustainability of future cities is the mitigation of the urban heat island phenomenon and thus, improvement of outdoor comfort conditions for people. The emphasis of this work is to analyze how mitigation techniques in a dense urban environment affect microclimate parameters and outdoor thermal comfort. The quantitative differentiation of outdoor thermal comfort conditions through bioclimatic urban redevelopment for an area in the city of Serres, Greece is investigated. The main bioclimatic interventions concern the application of cool paving materials, the increase of vegetated areas and the creation of water surfaces. The analysis and comparison are performed for a hot summer day with the ENVI-met model. Software simulations regarding microclimatic and outdoor thermal comfort conditions are performed for the daytime period 06.00–20.00 (14 h) at the height of 1.8 m from the ground. The examined parameters are air temperature, surface temperature and mean radiant temperature (Tmrt). The evaluation of outdoor thermal comfort conditions is conducted using the index PMV (Predicted Mean Vote), adapted for outdoor conditions. The results of simulations are discussed regarding the assessment of bioclimatic interventions.