Learning from the past -- zero-carbon comfort in a warm climate

URS D-Carb research studentship
Worldwide, air conditioning is set to become more important than heating; however it is energy intensive, and unaffordable for the majority. Until the Nineteenth Century, comfortable indoor temperatures were achieved by combining human thermal adaptability and vernacular architecture. Therefore builders (designers or architects perhaps) everywhere can learn from historic methods in climates that correspond to their future climates. Hence, to understand the zero carbon practices of the past and how they can inspire and enable zero carbon practices of the future in a warming world, this research will provide: 1. Historical Research on the design and construction characteristics of Italian vernacular buildings, to understand the aspects that make them resilient till today. 2. Study of adaptive comfort for a residential use through monitoring and building energy modeling of selected houses in Italy. 3. Outlines for a future house in the UK designed according to the zero carbon strategies elaborated through the previous steps.