Optimal Passive Interventions for Enhancing Resilience of Naturally Ventilated Residential Buildings in Future Climatic Extremes

Abstract

This study investigates the thermal resilience of naturally ventilated Lebanese residential buildings in the context of future climates, based on four climate zones, coastal (moderate and humid), low mountain (cool and seasonally variable), inland plateau (semi-arid with high summer heat), and high mountain (cold, with significant winter conditions). The research evaluates the performance of buildings for five weather conditions: TMY, SSP1 2.6 (2050 and 2080), and SSP5-8.5 (2050 and 2080). A baseline model was developed for typical building stock in each climate using EnergyPlus. The passive design parameters of window type, shading depth, and building orientation were systematically altered to analyze their effect on thermal comfort and building thermal resilience. The passive interventions were optimized using the GenOpt and BESOS Python package to minimize indoor overheating degree (IOD) and maximize climate change overheating resistivity (CCOR). Findings indicated that the customized passive interventions, such as deep shading (0.61.0 m), low-e or bronze glazing, and southern orientations, effectively lowered the overheating risk. Although Zone 3 (inland plateau) presented the highest overheating risk, the passive interventions reduced IOD up to 74% and increased CCOR from 1.21 to 7.1, indicating a substantial improvement in thermal resilience. These results provide actionable suggestions for enhancing buildings resilience to climate change in Lebanon, thus informing sustainable design practice within the Eastern Mediterranean climate.