Impact of reflective materials on urban canyon albedo, outdoor and indoor microclimates

The urban canyon albedo (UCA) quantifies the ability of street canyons to reflect solar radiation back sky. UCA is controlled by reflectance road and façades geometry. This study investigates variability in a typical residential area London its impact on outdoor indoor microclimates. results are based measurements real 1:10 physical model simulations using ENVImet v 4.4.6 EnergyPlus. Different scenarios with increased roads were simulated investigate level microclimate. showed that increasing has high absolute relative wide canyons. In deeper canyons, reduced while walls' increased. Results also surface detrimental thermal comfort, due interreflections between surfaces leading higher mean radiant temperatures. Increasing increases incident diffuse adjacent buildings, producing small increase operative findings used discuss best design strategies improve environment reflective materials without compromising comfort or environments.