High-resolution impact assessment of climate change on building energy performance considering extreme weather events and microclimate – Investigating variations in indoor thermal comfort and degree-days

Climate change and urbanization are two major challenges when planning for sustainable energy transition in cities. The common approach demand estimation is using only typical meso-scale weather data building models (BEMs), which underestimates the impacts of extreme climate microclimate variations. To quantify such underestimation on assessing future performance buildings, this study simulates a high spatiotemporal resolution BEM representative residential buildings located 600 × m2 urban area Southeast Sweden while accounting both microclimate. Future synthesized 13 scenarios over 2010-2099, divided into three 30-year periods, generated considering morphology area. It revealed that can cause 17% rise cooling degree-day (CDD) 7% reduction heating (HDD) average compared to mesoclimate. Considering conditions, CDD increases by 45% HDD decreases 8% from one period another. Differences become much larger during conditions. For example, increase 500% an warm July one. Results also indicate annual becomes four five times bigger than 2010-2039 2040-2069 2070-2099, respectively. daily peak load up 25% day In absence systems days, indoor temperature stays above 26°C continuously week reaches 29.2°C. Moreover, overheating hours 140% future. These all not influencing variations result maladaptation or insufficient adaptation areas change.