Optimizing Urban Comfort and Energy Efficiency: Climate-Responsive Materials and Strategies for Heat Mitigation in Madrid

Climate change and rapid urbanization have intensified the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, increasing energy demand and reducing thermal comfort in cities. In the Mediterranean region, rising temperatures and environmental threats underscore the need for microclimate-sensitive urban design. This study focuses on Madrid’s Picazo neighborhood, a vulnerable area with outdated building stock, to evaluate the interactions between urban microclimate, energy efficiency strategies, and urban morphology using ENVI-met and EnergyPlus simulations.

A novel workflow is developed to integrate radiative heat exchanges into building energy models, addressing a critical gap in existing research. While thermochromic coatings have demonstrated energy-saving potential, their interaction with urban surroundings is often overlooked. By analyzing three scenarios—Base, Radiative, and Thermochromic, results reveal significant variations in cooling and heating energy use intensities (EUIs) due to urban radiative heat and thermochromism, emphasizing the need for comprehensive urban-scale modeling.

The study also evaluates façade renovation strategies for thermal comfort. Findings show that Grey ETICS outperforms existing materials, while White ETICS yields less favorable results. An assessment of public residential buildings highlights the importance of shading, natural ventilation, and wind speed variations in mitigating heat stress.

To support climate-responsive urban planning, modified weather files incorporating UHI effects are generated to assess mitigation strategies, including optimized building envelopes, reflective pavements, and green infrastructure. These measures significantly enhance outdoor thermal comfort, reduce indoor overheating, and lower heating loads.

This research underscores the role of computational modeling in urban climate adaptation and energy assessments. The proposed methodology provides valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners, offering a scalable approach for designing sustainable and thermally resilient cities.