New integrative tool for assessing vulnerable urban areas. Refurbishment model for energy self-sufficient and bio-healthy neighbourhoods. Madrid, Spain. HABITA-RES

The research conducted under HABITA-RES explored the advisability of the integrative refurbishment of urban neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Madrid built between the end of the Civil War in 1939 and the enactment of the country’s first building code on the indoor environment in 1979. Characterised by highly inefficient buildings, many such neighbourhoods are listed as vulnerable urban areas. The study described hereunder analysed the feasibility of their conversion to energy self-sufficiency to improve residents’ environment, social circumstances and health. European directives and domestic legislation on energy production are introducing increasingly demanding requirements geared to achieving nearly zero energy buildings in 2020 and cities’ carbon neutrality by target year 2050. Possible approaches to achieve those ends were assessed under this study. The theoretical model used was validated with detailed information collected in situ on both social circumstances and energy efficiency. Designed to study improvement strategies for both individual and groups of buildings, the model prioritises passive improvements to lower demand. The findings will enable residents in such neighbourhoods to participate actively in improvement measures and access information on their costs and benefits

Contextual differences in the interpretation of thermal perception scales – the data base from a large-scale international questionnaire study

Within the IEA EBC Annex 69 on Strategy and Practice of Adaptive Thermal Comfort in Low Energy Buildings (http://annex69.org/), we are conducting an international questionnaire study related to thermal comfort scales. Our objective is the analysis of influences on the perception of thermal comfort scales. In particular, we are looking at the effect of the current thermal state, peoples climatic background, and level of adaptation on the relationship between thermal sensation, thermal comfort, and thermal acceptance

Contextual differences in the perception of thermal comfort scales – the data base from a large-scale international questionnaire study

Within the IEA EBC Annex 69 on Strategy and Practice of Adaptive Thermal Comfort in Low Energy Buildings (http://annex69.org/), we are conducting an international questionnaire study related to thermal comfort scales. Our objective is the analysis of influences on the perception of thermal comfort scales. In particular, we are looking at the effect of the current thermal state, peoples climatic background, and level of adaptation on the relationship between thermal sensation, thermal comfort, and thermal acceptance

Contextual differences in the perception of thermal comfort scales – the data base from a large-scale international questionnaire study

Within the IEA EBC Annex 69 on Strategy and Practice of Adaptive Thermal Comfort in Low Energy Buildings (http://annex69.org/), we are conducting an international questionnaire study related to thermal comfort scales. Our objective is the analysis of influences on the perception of thermal comfort scales. In particular, we are looking at the effect of the current thermal state, peoples climatic background, and level of adaptation on the relationship between thermal sensation, thermal comfort, and thermal acceptance