Impact of the Urban Environment on the Thermal Performance and Environmental Quality of Residential Buildings: A Case Study in Athens

Maria Kolokotroni (), May Zune, Petra Gratton, Thet Paing Tun, Ilia Christantoni and Dimitra Tsakanika
Additional contact information
Maria Kolokotroni: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Brunel University of London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK
May Zune: School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DT, UK
Petra Gratton: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Brunel University of London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK
Thet Paing Tun: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Brunel University of London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK
Ilia Christantoni: DAEM SA, City of Athens IT Company, 144 Peiraios, 11854 Athens, Greece
Dimitra Tsakanika: DAEM SA, City of Athens IT Company, 144 Peiraios, 11854 Athens, Greece

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-20

Abstract: This paper examines the impact of the urban context on the energy performance of a residential building in Athens. Current and future weather files were modified to consider the urban heat island, the overshadowing of adjacent buildings, and the modification of wind speed due to the effects of urban canyons. Dynamic thermal simulations were carried out using the modified weather files. The results indicate that there was a change in heating and cooling demand in comparison to using typical weather files; heating was reduced, but cooling was increased with a total increase in energy demand. There was variation due to height, while overshadowing impacts energy demand significantly. The modified weather analysis also indicates that there are periods in the year that cooling and heating are negligible. During these periods, passive strategies can be used to maintain good internal air quality if occupants are informed how to use their windows and shading devices according to prevailing weather conditions. A method of achieving this occupant-centric operation of the building is described, and the results of an intervention study are discussed. It shows that internal environmental quality can be improved by occupant actions based on forecast weather conditions to direct them.

Keywords: microclimate; climate change; urban heat island; ventilation; thermal comfort; energy use; climate correlation; indoor air quality; natural ventilation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/8/2062/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/8/2062/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:8:p:2062-:d:1636615

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().