Climate Change Related Dwelling Overheating Risk Mitigation

The European Heat Wave of 2003 led to seventy thousand excess deaths, linked to overheating in dwellings. Overheating risks, even outside extreme events, are predicted to increase over time due to climate change, posing significant impacts on health and well-being. These risks have been associated with increasing levels of thermal insulation and airtightness.

Ireland plans to retrofit five hundred thousand dwellings to achieve a B2 energy rating, focusing on enhancing thermal insulation and airtightness—a plan mirrored across Europe.

This project utilizes Dynamic Building Simulation (Energy Plus and Design Builder) to assess the level of overheating risk in Irish dwellings based on typology, configuration, and specification, with particular attention to the retrofit initiative. The study considers both current climatic conditions and future climate change impacts on overheating risks. Simulations are validated against field monitoring to ensure reliability.

The study's findings are made publicly available for industry use and to inform policy frameworks, ensuring the long-term performance of housing.