Abstract
Motives: Thermal comfort improvement strategies are among the most challenging aspects of planning and design in hot-arid cities. In recent years, Baghdad has witnessed the development of 46 residential investment complexes, highlighting the need to investigate their thermal comfort. Therefore, the research was conducted to address the lack of knowledge and local studies in Iraq regarding the integrated approach (shading and environmentally efficient materials) in residential complexes.
Aims: The current study aimed to examine the effect of shading and the use of environmentally efficient materials to improve thermal comfort levels in the Budour Baghdad residential complex, and selected development scenarios under typical summer day conditions. A quantitative approach was adopted. The study demonstrated that the integrated scenario C enabled to achieve a considerable improvement in PMV and PET values, leading to a significant reduction in heat stress areas.
Results: The research findings provide valuable insights for the development of planning and design guidelines for sustainable residential complexes that can be efficiently adapted to the local environment.