Indoor temperature in Mediterranean traditional homes: High thermal mass and occupant behaviour

Traditional Mediterranean homes are known for their passive cooling strategies, relying on natural ventilation and high thermal mass envelopes. However, climate change and occupant behaviour challenge their efficacy. This study explores the real-world interaction between thermal mass and occupant behaviour in three existing dwellings: two traditional heavyweight, one modern mediumweight. Indoor air temperature was longitudinally monitored in 27 rooms of nine apartments from April 2018 to May 2019. 68 questionnaires captured 12 residents’ behaviours and thermal perceptions during the same period. T-Tests and Mann-Whitney U Tests were used to estimate the statistical significance of the comparison. Traditional construction consistently maintains cooler temperature due to higher thermal mass, smoothing indoor temperature peaks and reducing fluctuations from solar gain and human activity. Prolonged window opening for ventilation in summer minimizes the passive cooling effect. High thermal mass homes were found comfortable at lower temperatures, and occupants wear more clothing insulation than those in the other existing building. The study suggests the potential of traditional buildings for climate change resilience, future research needs to tackle building and occupant interaction in extreme conditions such as hot summers and/or during heatwaves.