Façade Strategies for Climate Resilience: The Impact of Thermal Mass and Albedo on Urban Microclimates Across Different Climatic Zones

Autores
Alchapar, Noelia Liliana; Giancola, Emanuela; Pérez, Gloria; Terraza, Maira Ayelen; Pezzuto, Cláudia
Año de publicación
2025
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
The intensification of thermal stress in cities due to urbanization and climate change underscores the urgent need to improve outdoor habitability. This study analyses the influence of three opaque façade technologies—traditional, lightweight and external thermal insulation composite systems—combined with two albedo levels (0.30 and 0.80), on summer outdoor conditions in Mendoza (Argentina), Madrid (Spain) and Campinas (Brazil). Using a calibrated microclimatic model with ENVI-met v5.6 software, a digital replica of a 10-storey urban canyon was simulated to generate 18 scenarios, assessing the effect of façade thermal mass and reflectivity on the urban microclimate. The results show that (i) scenarios that mainly affect air temperature (AT) are those that modify the thermal mass of the façade technologies. For example, traditional technology with a low albedo reduce maximum AT by up to 1.2 ◦C in Campinas, 0.89 ◦C in Mendoza, and 0.81 ◦C in Madrid compared to light technology with the same albedo level. (ii) Mean radiant temperature (MRT) increases significantly in scenarios involving lightweight façade by 4.53 ◦C in Madrid, 4.46 ◦C in Mendoza, and 3.39 ◦C in Campinas. Conversely, increasing façade albedo further amplifies MRT due to multiple reflections in urban canyons with increases of 6.50 ◦C in Campinas, 6.09 ◦C in Mendoza, and 5.33 ◦C in Madrid. The impact is more pronounced with traditional façades. (iii) Traditional façades and low-albedo ETIC systems experience the fewest hours of very high thermal stress (UTCI > 38 ◦C), whereas lightweight façades increase exposure to extreme heat. Overall, air temperature is primarily determined by façade thermal mass, mean radiant temperature by surface reflectivity, and thermal comfort by the combined effect of both. These findings confirm that high reflectivity can be counterproductive in dense urban canyons, emphasizing the importance of climate- and morphology-sensitive façade strategies for urban resilience.
Fil: Alchapar, Noelia Liliana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ambiente, Hábitat y Energía; Argentina
Fil: Giancola, Emanuela. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción Eduardo Torroja.; España
Fil: Pérez, Gloria. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción Eduardo Torroja.; España
Fil: Terraza, Maira Ayelen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ambiente, Hábitat y Energía; Argentina
Fil: Pezzuto, Cláudia. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Campinas (puc Campinas);
Materia
ENVI-MET SIMULATION
URBAN MICROCLIMATE
FAÇADE THERMAL MASS;
ALBEDO
MEAN RADIANT TEMPERATURE
OUTDOOR THERMAL COMFORT (UTCI)
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar/
Repositorio
CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Institución
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
OAI Identificador
oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/283880
Acceder
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oai_identifier_str oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/283880
network_acronym_str CONICETDig
repository_id_str 3498
network_name_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
spelling Façade Strategies for Climate Resilience: The Impact of Thermal Mass and Albedo on Urban Microclimates Across Different Climatic ZonesAlchapar, Noelia LilianaGiancola, EmanuelaPérez, GloriaTerraza, Maira AyelenPezzuto, CláudiaENVI-MET SIMULATIONURBAN MICROCLIMATEFAÇADE THERMAL MASS;ALBEDOMEAN RADIANT TEMPERATUREOUTDOOR THERMAL COMFORT (UTCI)https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2.7https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2.1https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2.5https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2The intensification of thermal stress in cities due to urbanization and climate change underscores the urgent need to improve outdoor habitability. This study analyses the influence of three opaque façade technologies—traditional, lightweight and external thermal insulation composite systems—combined with two albedo levels (0.30 and 0.80), on summer outdoor conditions in Mendoza (Argentina), Madrid (Spain) and Campinas (Brazil). Using a calibrated microclimatic model with ENVI-met v5.6 software, a digital replica of a 10-storey urban canyon was simulated to generate 18 scenarios, assessing the effect of façade thermal mass and reflectivity on the urban microclimate. The results show that (i) scenarios that mainly affect air temperature (AT) are those that modify the thermal mass of the façade technologies. For example, traditional technology with a low albedo reduce maximum AT by up to 1.2 ◦C in Campinas, 0.89 ◦C in Mendoza, and 0.81 ◦C in Madrid compared to light technology with the same albedo level. (ii) Mean radiant temperature (MRT) increases significantly in scenarios involving lightweight façade by 4.53 ◦C in Madrid, 4.46 ◦C in Mendoza, and 3.39 ◦C in Campinas. Conversely, increasing façade albedo further amplifies MRT due to multiple reflections in urban canyons with increases of 6.50 ◦C in Campinas, 6.09 ◦C in Mendoza, and 5.33 ◦C in Madrid. The impact is more pronounced with traditional façades. (iii) Traditional façades and low-albedo ETIC systems experience the fewest hours of very high thermal stress (UTCI > 38 ◦C), whereas lightweight façades increase exposure to extreme heat. Overall, air temperature is primarily determined by façade thermal mass, mean radiant temperature by surface reflectivity, and thermal comfort by the combined effect of both. These findings confirm that high reflectivity can be counterproductive in dense urban canyons, emphasizing the importance of climate- and morphology-sensitive façade strategies for urban resilience.Fil: Alchapar, Noelia Liliana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ambiente, Hábitat y Energía; ArgentinaFil: Giancola, Emanuela. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción Eduardo Torroja.; EspañaFil: Pérez, Gloria. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción Eduardo Torroja.; EspañaFil: Terraza, Maira Ayelen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ambiente, Hábitat y Energía; ArgentinaFil: Pezzuto, Cláudia. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Campinas (puc Campinas);MDPI2025-10info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/11336/283880Alchapar, Noelia Liliana; Giancola, Emanuela; Pérez, Gloria; Terraza, Maira Ayelen; Pezzuto, Cláudia; Façade Strategies for Climate Resilience: The Impact of Thermal Mass and Albedo on Urban Microclimates Across Different Climatic Zones; MDPI; Urban Science; 9; 10; 10-2025; 1-202413-8851CONICET DigitalCONICETenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/10/428info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.3390/urbansci9100428info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar/reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas2026-08-25T14:33:18Zoai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/283880instacron:CONICETInstitucionalhttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/oai/requestdasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:34982026-08-25 14:33:18.41CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Façade Strategies for Climate Resilience: The Impact of Thermal Mass and Albedo on Urban Microclimates Across Different Climatic Zones
title Façade Strategies for Climate Resilience: The Impact of Thermal Mass and Albedo on Urban Microclimates Across Different Climatic Zones
spellingShingle Façade Strategies for Climate Resilience: The Impact of Thermal Mass and Albedo on Urban Microclimates Across Different Climatic Zones
Alchapar, Noelia Liliana
ENVI-MET SIMULATION
URBAN MICROCLIMATE
FAÇADE THERMAL MASS;
ALBEDO
MEAN RADIANT TEMPERATURE
OUTDOOR THERMAL COMFORT (UTCI)
title_short Façade Strategies for Climate Resilience: The Impact of Thermal Mass and Albedo on Urban Microclimates Across Different Climatic Zones
title_full Façade Strategies for Climate Resilience: The Impact of Thermal Mass and Albedo on Urban Microclimates Across Different Climatic Zones
title_fullStr Façade Strategies for Climate Resilience: The Impact of Thermal Mass and Albedo on Urban Microclimates Across Different Climatic Zones
title_full_unstemmed Façade Strategies for Climate Resilience: The Impact of Thermal Mass and Albedo on Urban Microclimates Across Different Climatic Zones
title_sort Façade Strategies for Climate Resilience: The Impact of Thermal Mass and Albedo on Urban Microclimates Across Different Climatic Zones
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Alchapar, Noelia Liliana
Giancola, Emanuela
Pérez, Gloria
Terraza, Maira Ayelen
Pezzuto, Cláudia
author Alchapar, Noelia Liliana
author_facet Alchapar, Noelia Liliana
Giancola, Emanuela
Pérez, Gloria
Terraza, Maira Ayelen
Pezzuto, Cláudia
author_role author
author2 Giancola, Emanuela
Pérez, Gloria
Terraza, Maira Ayelen
Pezzuto, Cláudia
author2_role author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv ENVI-MET SIMULATION
URBAN MICROCLIMATE
FAÇADE THERMAL MASS;
ALBEDO
MEAN RADIANT TEMPERATURE
OUTDOOR THERMAL COMFORT (UTCI)
topic ENVI-MET SIMULATION
URBAN MICROCLIMATE
FAÇADE THERMAL MASS;
ALBEDO
MEAN RADIANT TEMPERATURE
OUTDOOR THERMAL COMFORT (UTCI)
purl_subject.fl_str_mv https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2.7
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2.1
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2.5
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv The intensification of thermal stress in cities due to urbanization and climate change underscores the urgent need to improve outdoor habitability. This study analyses the influence of three opaque façade technologies—traditional, lightweight and external thermal insulation composite systems—combined with two albedo levels (0.30 and 0.80), on summer outdoor conditions in Mendoza (Argentina), Madrid (Spain) and Campinas (Brazil). Using a calibrated microclimatic model with ENVI-met v5.6 software, a digital replica of a 10-storey urban canyon was simulated to generate 18 scenarios, assessing the effect of façade thermal mass and reflectivity on the urban microclimate. The results show that (i) scenarios that mainly affect air temperature (AT) are those that modify the thermal mass of the façade technologies. For example, traditional technology with a low albedo reduce maximum AT by up to 1.2 ◦C in Campinas, 0.89 ◦C in Mendoza, and 0.81 ◦C in Madrid compared to light technology with the same albedo level. (ii) Mean radiant temperature (MRT) increases significantly in scenarios involving lightweight façade by 4.53 ◦C in Madrid, 4.46 ◦C in Mendoza, and 3.39 ◦C in Campinas. Conversely, increasing façade albedo further amplifies MRT due to multiple reflections in urban canyons with increases of 6.50 ◦C in Campinas, 6.09 ◦C in Mendoza, and 5.33 ◦C in Madrid. The impact is more pronounced with traditional façades. (iii) Traditional façades and low-albedo ETIC systems experience the fewest hours of very high thermal stress (UTCI > 38 ◦C), whereas lightweight façades increase exposure to extreme heat. Overall, air temperature is primarily determined by façade thermal mass, mean radiant temperature by surface reflectivity, and thermal comfort by the combined effect of both. These findings confirm that high reflectivity can be counterproductive in dense urban canyons, emphasizing the importance of climate- and morphology-sensitive façade strategies for urban resilience.
Fil: Alchapar, Noelia Liliana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ambiente, Hábitat y Energía; Argentina
Fil: Giancola, Emanuela. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción Eduardo Torroja.; España
Fil: Pérez, Gloria. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción Eduardo Torroja.; España
Fil: Terraza, Maira Ayelen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ambiente, Hábitat y Energía; Argentina
Fil: Pezzuto, Cláudia. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Campinas (puc Campinas);
description The intensification of thermal stress in cities due to urbanization and climate change underscores the urgent need to improve outdoor habitability. This study analyses the influence of three opaque façade technologies—traditional, lightweight and external thermal insulation composite systems—combined with two albedo levels (0.30 and 0.80), on summer outdoor conditions in Mendoza (Argentina), Madrid (Spain) and Campinas (Brazil). Using a calibrated microclimatic model with ENVI-met v5.6 software, a digital replica of a 10-storey urban canyon was simulated to generate 18 scenarios, assessing the effect of façade thermal mass and reflectivity on the urban microclimate. The results show that (i) scenarios that mainly affect air temperature (AT) are those that modify the thermal mass of the façade technologies. For example, traditional technology with a low albedo reduce maximum AT by up to 1.2 ◦C in Campinas, 0.89 ◦C in Mendoza, and 0.81 ◦C in Madrid compared to light technology with the same albedo level. (ii) Mean radiant temperature (MRT) increases significantly in scenarios involving lightweight façade by 4.53 ◦C in Madrid, 4.46 ◦C in Mendoza, and 3.39 ◦C in Campinas. Conversely, increasing façade albedo further amplifies MRT due to multiple reflections in urban canyons with increases of 6.50 ◦C in Campinas, 6.09 ◦C in Mendoza, and 5.33 ◦C in Madrid. The impact is more pronounced with traditional façades. (iii) Traditional façades and low-albedo ETIC systems experience the fewest hours of very high thermal stress (UTCI > 38 ◦C), whereas lightweight façades increase exposure to extreme heat. Overall, air temperature is primarily determined by façade thermal mass, mean radiant temperature by surface reflectivity, and thermal comfort by the combined effect of both. These findings confirm that high reflectivity can be counterproductive in dense urban canyons, emphasizing the importance of climate- and morphology-sensitive façade strategies for urban resilience.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-10
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/11336/283880
Alchapar, Noelia Liliana; Giancola, Emanuela; Pérez, Gloria; Terraza, Maira Ayelen; Pezzuto, Cláudia; Façade Strategies for Climate Resilience: The Impact of Thermal Mass and Albedo on Urban Microclimates Across Different Climatic Zones; MDPI; Urban Science; 9; 10; 10-2025; 1-20
2413-8851
CONICET Digital
CONICET
url http://hdl.handle.net/11336/283880
identifier_str_mv Alchapar, Noelia Liliana; Giancola, Emanuela; Pérez, Gloria; Terraza, Maira Ayelen; Pezzuto, Cláudia; Façade Strategies for Climate Resilience: The Impact of Thermal Mass and Albedo on Urban Microclimates Across Different Climatic Zones; MDPI; Urban Science; 9; 10; 10-2025; 1-20
2413-8851
CONICET Digital
CONICET
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/10/428
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.3390/urbansci9100428
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar/
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv MDPI
publisher.none.fl_str_mv MDPI
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
reponame_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
collection CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname_str Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.name.fl_str_mv CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.mail.fl_str_mv dasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.ar
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score 13.24418

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