University study will evaluate the adaptive capacity of housing in Pamplona and Seville to climate change

A multidisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Navarra -coordinated by the School of Architecture- is seeking the participation of the inhabitants of the cities of Pamplona and Seville to be part of the study ClimateReadya project that aims to assess the adaptive capacity of residential buildings in both cities to the overheating already caused by climate change.

This project - which last year obtained funding from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the "Proyectos de I+D+i Retos Investigación" call for proposals - will run for three years. In the current phase, the researchers -from the universities of Navarra, Seville and Alicante- are asking for the collaboration of the inhabitants of Pamplona and Seville to respond to a simple survey throughout the month of June.

"The choice of both cities was made because it allows us to compare regions with very different climatic conditions -Pamplona, with buildings designed for an eminently cold climate and generally mild summers, and Seville, for a much hotter climate-. So before the hardening of the summer conditions and heat waves in Pamplona in residential buildings is sought to reduce as much as possible the overheating inside through passive measures and use; while in Seville, where the use of air conditioning is widespread due to high temperatures, it seeks to reduce as much as possible the energy demand of the systems, "explains one of the principal investigators of the project, Professor and director of the Master in Design and Environmental Management of Buildings of the University of Navarra Ana Sanchez-Ostiz.  

Measures to improve health and save energy: adequate ventilation, awnings, etc.

Also this summer, monitoring will begin in 10 dwellings in each city of different typologies: from housing blocks to single-family homes, built before 1980, before 2006 and up to the present. "We intend that the ClimateReady project provides the perspective of the real situation of the housing stock and complements other projects that are already underway in Navarra - such as LIFE NADAPTA at regional level and the Energy Transition and Climate Change Strategy 2030 of Pamplona, at city level - taking into account that overheating in homes can have a direct effect on people's health. And, in particular, of the most vulnerable population, such as the elderly and children," stresses another of the researchers, Dolores López, professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Navarra.

One of the final objectives of the project will be to detail simple measures that help to combat overheating, especially during heat waves, which are becoming more and more frequent in both cities and in the rest of Spain, in order to improve the wellbeing of homes and thus people's health and energy savings. "Economic measures such as proper ventilation (many people leave the house in current at inappropriate hours), always have a thermometer at home (it is essential to know what temperature is to ventilate at the best time) and the placement of awnings and other sunscreens, are very effective, and not only the indiscriminate use of air conditioning, which are often running when not needed or even with the windows open, "details the also principal investigator of the project Aurora Monge, professor at the School of Architecture at the University of Navarra and an expert in this field.

The study, coordinated by the School of Architecture, also involves researchers from the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, the Faculty of Medicine and the Museum of the academic center.