Entre espaços e temperaturas: metodologia para análise de conforto e desempenho termo energético de edificações residenciais considerando o entorno urbano no programa computacional EnergyPlus

Abstract

The rapid growth of cities and the effects of climate change have intensified thermal discomfort in urban environments, particularly in densely built areas. In this context, this research proposed a methodology to evaluate thermal comfort and the thermoenergetic performance of residential buildings in urban scenarios of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, by exploring the capabilities of EnergyPlus software (version 24.1.0). The central issue addressed was the limitation of conventional simulations, which often overlook the influence of the urban surroundings—especially longwave radiation exchanges between surfaces—leading to inaccurate assessments of thermal loads and energy consumption. As a case study, a multifamily building located in a densely populated area of Belo Horizonte was modeled. The proposed methodology involved the integrated insertion of thermal zones representing neighboring buildings, three-dimensional shading elements, and sky view factor calculations, all directly implemented within the EnergyPlus environment, with support only from SketchUp and OpenStudio. The research demonstrated that, although traditionally known for simulating shortwave solar radiation, EnergyPlus is also capable of computing longwave radiation effects when properly configured through objects such as SurfaceProperty:SurroundingSurfaces and LocalEnvironment. The simulations showed that detailed modeling of the urban context significantly affects both indoor thermal comfort conditions and building energy loads. When accurately representing the surroundings, EnergyPlus proved to be effective in simulating complex thermal exchanges—including longwave radiation—making it a robust tool for dense urban environments. Therefore, the adopted methodology not only expands the software’s analytical potential but also provides relevant technical support for improving architectural design, addressing urban heat island effects, and informing public policies aimed at urban sustainability and climate change mitigation.