Modelling the Influence of Climate Change on Current and Future Buildings in Relation to Occupant Thermal Comfort and Overheating Risks

Abstract

Over the last decades overheating in buildings has become a major concern. The situation is expected to worsen due to the current rate of global warming. High indoor temperatures lead to socioeconomic damages, thermal discomfort, productivity reduction, and in severe cases to illness and death. In the future, to compensate the increase in building cooling load, the use of passive and active mitigation (i.e., cooling) strategies is inevitable. Therefore, the thesis aims at thermal performance evaluation of the residential building stock in Belgium in relation to climate change and provide solutions to overcome the expected overheating risk. The thesis consists of: a) typological classification of Belgian residential building stock and creation of reference models, b) numerical study and monitoring of the selected case studies, c) development of a framework to assess the potential of mitigation strategies through an state-of-the art methodology, d) creation of overheating guideline for the community, and f) analyzing direct and indirect socioeconomic impacts of overheating in Belgium.

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