The goal of this work was to apply an operable green façade wall system in order to analyze the benefits of vegetative surfaces in relation to hot arid urban climates. A second layer of information was also analyzed to provide an alternative to electricity. This method was used to actuate the operable green façade passively to enhance sustainable environmental strategies. Carbon emissions, temperature and relative humidity were evaluated in a hot arid climate on a kinetic green wall system physical scale model. Computer simulation provided insight to daylight, shading and solar irradiance within a mock up building. The results of these factors may be a useful tool to implement in building design for these climatic zones.

Publikum Nynäshamn docks directly to the west façade of the existing 9 story municipal building with seven floors of open activity space. These surround a full-height atrium across which a two-floor living plant green wall provides the monumental living presence of nature and its ecosystem services in an office environment.  Plants also grace the other side of this two story wall, providing a living backdrop for the heart of the building - the raised three floor high assembly hall. A lunchroom with balconies above the assembly hall provides city views and a roof garden for municipal staff. The two floor high lobby beneath the assembly hall provides a new internal city street between Banana Square and Floravägen – a former back alleyway.  A ground-level colonnade walkway with benches surrounds the new and old buildings, inviting citizens into the building spaces. Public space and circulation is further enhanced with a new passageway opening up the former dead-end southwest corner of Banana Square where the old municipal building met Folkets hus (People’s House). A generous stair complex in this new sunny southern square provides spontaneous seating and meeting spaces as well as additional outdoor access to the two floor café, art gallery, and the largest green roof – one of three accessible green roofs that enhance social and ecological values.  Pedestrian movement can continue through this new passageway directly down to Svandammen (swan pond), and in the opposite direction, directly up to Banana square from the commuter rail station.   The café and two-floor meeting room spaces provide evening and weekend public social spaces for the city residents, complementing existing bars and restaurants in the adjoining Folkets Hus.   Reduced use of energy is encouraged with progressively rising central spaces allowing for the possibility of natural stack ventilation, thermal mass energy storage in concrete (HD/F) slabs, and generous natural daylight through the glazed curtain wall climate shell surrounding the building.  Abstracted winged structures crown the top of the building and grace the building entrances, inspired by the sightings of sea eagles reported in this coastal area, and provides both a signum for the building (instead of a more traditional municipal building tower) and extended surface for rainwater collection that can be used for watering indoor green plant walls and the roof garden vegetation.  The deeper soil of the intensive green roofs not only provides more uptake and retention of rainwater (and thus reduced peak flow rates favorable for stormwater management) but also allows planting of larger, woody plants and bushes, and even small trees, which in turn, among other social and ecological benefits, add natural habitat to a predominantly impervious-surfaced downtown urban area.

O uso de vegetação nas superfícies urbanas tem despertado a atenção de pesquisadores, empreendedores e da população em geral, pelos benefícios que pode proporcionar às construções, geralmente como coberturas e fachadas verdes. Comparadas às coberturas, as fachadas verdes podem representar maiores superfícies em edifícios altos de áreas densamente ocupadas, incrementando massa foliar e trocas térmicas úmidas no entorno imediato, contribuindo para o balanço de energia nas áreas urbanas. Neste trabalho realizaram-se levantamentos da inclusão das paredes verdes nas políticas públicas, das diferentes tecnologias de paredes verdes, além de estudos de desempenho microclimático de paredes verdes. Há uma série de trabalhos quantificando o efeito das superfícies verdes no desempenho térmico dos edifícios, sabendo-se pouco sobre seus efeitos microclimáticos urbanos. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é quantificar o impacto das fachadas verdes no microclima urbano no nível do pedestre, considerando as variáveis temperatura e umidade do ar, temperatura de superfície e temperatura média radiante. Em função das restrições e recursos do modelo ENVI-met, adotado neste estudo, a pesquisa incluiu, inicialmente, um método dedutivo, exploratório, através de medições de densidade foliar da vegetação do tipo escaladora e monitoramento de alguns dados microclimáticos em uma fachada verde. Na etapa seguinte o método é indutivo, realizando-se testes de sensibilidade do modelo em cenário hipotético, variando-se índice de área foliar (IAF 0,5m²/m², 1m²/m² e 2m²/m²) e umidade do solo (50% e 60%). As conclusões confirmam o efeito microclimático bastante localizado da parede verde do tipo escaladora e um comportamento distinto nos períodos diurno e noturno, como acontece em outras formas de inserção do verde em áreas urbanas. À noite, na ausência da evapotranspiração, o resfriamento é mais influenciado pela troca convectiva. Durante o dia percebe-se o efeito da evapotranspiração no ligeiro aumento da umidade do ar em 1,0g/kg, à temperatura do ar de 26°C, e na diminuição da temperatura do ar, em ambos os casos quando comparadas ao cenário sem vegetação, em 0,17°C, 0,36°C e 0,68°C com os incrementos sucessivos do IAF, para umidade do solo 50%, às 14h, principalmente a sotavento. Os efeitos da vegetação na temperatura radiante média são bastante localizados, tornando sua influência praticamente imperceptível no microclima exterior sob o efeito da radiação solar, apesar dos incrementos do IAF. O incremento na umidade do solo, de 50% para 60%, resulta em aumento da evapotranspiração provocando redução máxima de cerca de 0,36°C na temperatura do ar a 1,5m do solo, para o mesmo IAF. O sombreamento provocado pela vegetação resulta em variação insignificante na TRM mesmo com o aumento na umidade relativa do solo, para o mesmo IAF. Os testes de sensibilidade mostram que o modelo é adequado para realização de estudos mais aprofundados, justificando o investimento em pesquisas futuras visando à calibração entre dados microclimáticos medidos e simulados para paredes verdes em clima tropical e subtropical e à simulação microclimática de áreas urbanas com o uso dessa tecnologia. / The use of greenery on urban surfaces, normally green roofs or green facades has attracted the attention of researchers, entrepreneurs and the population in general for its benefits to buildings. Compared to green roofs, green facades may represent higher surfaces in tall buildings of densely occupied areas, increasing foliage mass and latent heat exchanges for the immediate environment, contributing to energy balance in urban areas. With a focus on green walls, this work carried out investigations about their inclusion in public policies, green walls\' technologies and microclimate performance studies. Despite the existence of numerous papers quantifying the effect of green surfaces on the thermal performance of buildings, there is limited available knowledge regarding their effects on urban microclimate. In this context, the aim of this work is to quantify the impact of green façades on urban microclimate at pedestrian level, considering the variables air temperature, air humidity, surface temperature, and mean radiant temperature. Based on the restrictions and resources of the ENVI-met model, which was adopted in this study, the research initially included a deductive exploratory method through measurements of leaf area density of climbing plants and monitoring of some microclimatic data at a green façade. In the next stage, the method was inductive, with sensitivity tests of the model in a hypothetical scenario, varying the leaf area index (LAI 0.5m²/m², 1m²/m² and 2m²/m²) and soil humidity (50% and 60%). The results confirm the localized microclimatic effects of the climbing green wall and a distinct behaviour between daytime and night time, equivalent to those caused by other forms of greenery in urban areas. At night, with the lack of evapotranspiration, cooling is more influenced by convective exchange. The effect of evapotranspiration is clearly perceived during the day due to a) the slight increase in air humidity by 1.0 g/kg at a temperature of 26°C, and b) the decrease of air temperature, when compared to the scenario without vegetation, of 0.17 °C, 0.36 °C and 0.68 °C (for LAI=0,5m²/m², 1,00m²/m² and 2,0m²/m²), for a 50% soil humidity, mainly in the leeward direction. The effects of greenery on mean radiant temperature, despite the LAI increase, are quite localized, making its influence practically imperceptible on the outdoor microclimate under the effect of solar radiation. The increase of soil humidity from 50% to 60% results in increased evapotranspiration leading to a maximum reduction around 0.36 °C on air temperature, at 1.5 m from ground level, for the same LAI. Vegetation shading results in insignificant variation in mean radiant temperature. Sensitivity tests show that the model is suitable for further studies, justifying an investment in future research aiming at calibration between measured and simulated microclimate data for green walls in tropical and subtropical climates and the microclimatic simulation of urban areas with green walls\' technology.

O uso de vegetação nas superfícies urbanas tem despertado a atenção de pesquisadores, empreendedores e da população em geral, pelos benefícios que pode proporcionar às construções, geralmente como coberturas e fachadas verdes. Comparadas às coberturas, as fachadas verdes podem representar maiores superfícies em edifícios altos de áreas densamente ocupadas, incrementando massa foliar e trocas térmicas úmidas no entorno imediato, contribuindo para o balanço de energia nas áreas urbanas. Neste trabalho realizaram-se levantamentos da inclusão das paredes verdes nas políticas públicas, das diferentes tecnologias de paredes verdes, além de estudos de desempenho microclimático de paredes verdes. Há uma série de trabalhos quantificando o efeito das superfícies verdes no desempenho térmico dos edifícios, sabendo-se pouco sobre seus efeitos microclimáticos urbanos. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é quantificar o impacto das fachadas verdes no microclima urbano no nível do pedestre, considerando as variáveis temperatura e umidade do ar, temperatura de superfície e temperatura média radiante. Em função das restrições e recursos do modelo ENVI-met, adotado neste estudo, a pesquisa incluiu, inicialmente, um método dedutivo, exploratório, através de medições de densidade foliar da vegetação do tipo escaladora e monitoramento de alguns dados microclimáticos em uma fachada verde. Na etapa seguinte o método é indutivo, realizando-se testes de sensibilidade do modelo em cenário hipotético, variando-se índice de área foliar (IAF 0,5m²/m², 1m²/m² e 2m²/m²) e umidade do solo (50% e 60%). As conclusões confirmam o efeito microclimático bastante localizado da parede verde do tipo escaladora e um comportamento distinto nos períodos diurno e noturno, como acontece em outras formas de inserção do verde em áreas urbanas. À noite, na ausência da evapotranspiração, o resfriamento é mais influenciado pela troca convectiva. Durante o dia percebe-se o efeito da evapotranspiração no ligeiro aumento da umidade do ar em 1,0g/kg, à temperatura do ar de 26°C, e na diminuição da temperatura do ar, em ambos os casos quando comparadas ao cenário sem vegetação, em 0,17°C, 0,36°C e 0,68°C com os incrementos sucessivos do IAF, para umidade do solo 50%, às 14h, principalmente a sotavento. Os efeitos da vegetação na temperatura radiante média são bastante localizados, tornando sua influência praticamente imperceptível no microclima exterior sob o efeito da radiação solar, apesar dos incrementos do IAF. O incremento na umidade do solo, de 50% para 60%, resulta em aumento da evapotranspiração provocando redução máxima de cerca de 0,36°C na temperatura do ar a 1,5m do solo, para o mesmo IAF. O sombreamento provocado pela vegetação resulta em variação insignificante na TRM mesmo com o aumento na umidade relativa do solo, para o mesmo IAF. Os testes de sensibilidade mostram que o modelo é adequado para realização de estudos mais aprofundados, justificando o investimento em pesquisas futuras visando à calibração entre dados microclimáticos medidos e simulados para paredes verdes em clima tropical e subtropical e à simulação microclimática de áreas urbanas com o uso dessa tecnologia. / The use of greenery on urban surfaces, normally green roofs or green facades has attracted the attention of researchers, entrepreneurs and the population in general for its benefits to buildings. Compared to green roofs, green facades may represent higher surfaces in tall buildings of densely occupied areas, increasing foliage mass and latent heat exchanges for the immediate environment, contributing to energy balance in urban areas. With a focus on green walls, this work carried out investigations about their inclusion in public policies, green walls\' technologies and microclimate performance studies. Despite the existence of numerous papers quantifying the effect of green surfaces on the thermal performance of buildings, there is limited available knowledge regarding their effects on urban microclimate. In this context, the aim of this work is to quantify the impact of green façades on urban microclimate at pedestrian level, considering the variables air temperature, air humidity, surface temperature, and mean radiant temperature. Based on the restrictions and resources of the ENVI-met model, which was adopted in this study, the research initially included a deductive exploratory method through measurements of leaf area density of climbing plants and monitoring of some microclimatic data at a green façade. In the next stage, the method was inductive, with sensitivity tests of the model in a hypothetical scenario, varying the leaf area index (LAI 0.5m²/m², 1m²/m² and 2m²/m²) and soil humidity (50% and 60%). The results confirm the localized microclimatic effects of the climbing green wall and a distinct behaviour between daytime and night time, equivalent to those caused by other forms of greenery in urban areas. At night, with the lack of evapotranspiration, cooling is more influenced by convective exchange. The effect of evapotranspiration is clearly perceived during the day due to a) the slight increase in air humidity by 1.0 g/kg at a temperature of 26°C, and b) the decrease of air temperature, when compared to the scenario without vegetation, of 0.17 °C, 0.36 °C and 0.68 °C (for LAI=0,5m²/m², 1,00m²/m² and 2,0m²/m²), for a 50% soil humidity, mainly in the leeward direction. The effects of greenery on mean radiant temperature, despite the LAI increase, are quite localized, making its influence practically imperceptible on the outdoor microclimate under the effect of solar radiation. The increase of soil humidity from 50% to 60% results in increased evapotranspiration leading to a maximum reduction around 0.36 °C on air temperature, at 1.5 m from ground level, for the same LAI. Vegetation shading results in insignificant variation in mean radiant temperature. Sensitivity tests show that the model is suitable for further studies, justifying an investment in future research aiming at calibration between measured and simulated microclimate data for green walls in tropical and subtropical climates and the microclimatic simulation of urban areas with green walls\' technology.

Cette étude s’inscrit dans le cadre du projet "ANR-Villes Durables VegDUD : Rôle du végétal dans le développement urbain durable ; une approche par les enjeux liés à la climatologie, l’hydrologie, la maîtrise de l’énergie et les ambiances" (2010-2013). Elle traite de la modélisation et de l’expérimentation de toitures et de façades végétales, en vue de l’évaluation de leurs impacts hygrothermiques sur les bâtiments et sur les microclimats urbains. Un modèle physique a été développé pour décrire les mécanismes de transferts couplés de chaleur et de masse au sein de la paroi végétale. L’implémentation de ce modèle dans un code de simulation thermique dynamique permet de prédire l’impact de la végétalisation sur la performance énergétique des bâtiments. L’extension de cette démarche à l’échelle d’une rue-canyon permet d’inclure l’interaction microclimatique dans la simulation thermohydrique des bâtiments. Sur le plan expérimental, une maquette reconstituant une scène urbaine est mise en place pour étudier l’impact de différentes typologies de parois végétales dans plusieurs configurations microclimatiques. La confrontation des résultats expérimentaux et ceux issus de la modélisation numérique a été entreprise à l’échelle du système constitué du bâtiment et du microclimat urbain environnant. Pour cela, l’étude du comportement d’un bâtiment et d’une rue végétalisés par rapport au comportement du même bâtiment et d’une rue témoins a permis d’évaluer l’incidence des transferts thermiques, hygrométriques et radiatifs de la végétalisation. Ceci a permis d’entreprendre la validation des outils de prédiction numérique développés. Les résultats de l’étude montrent que les transferts thermiques et hydriques sont fortement couplés et que le comportement thermique des parois végétales est tributaire de l’état hydrique du substrat de culture. Pour l’été comme pour l’hiver, les simulations numériques et les données expérimentales montrent que la végétalisation permet d’améliorer la performance énergétique des bâtiments et de réduire les îlots de chaleur urbains. / This study was conducted in the framework of the National Program "ANR-VegDUD Project : Role of vegetation in sustainable urban development, an approach related to climatology, hydrology, energy management and environments" (2010 -2013). It deals with the experimental and numerical modeling of green roofs and green facades to evaluate their thermohydric effects on buildings and urban microclimates. A physical model describing the thermal and water transfer mechanisms within the vegetated building envelopes has been developed. The model’s program has been implemented in a building simulation program. Using this tool, we are able to predict the impact of green roofs and green facades on building energy performance. This approach is extended to the street canyon in order to assess the microclimatic interaction in building simulation. An experimental mockup modeling an urban scene at reduced scale is designed to study the impact of different types of green roofs and walls. The comparison of the measurements carried out on vegetated buildings and streets with the reference highlights the hygrothermal and radiative impacts of vegetated buildings envelopes. In addition, these experimental data are used to verify and validate the reliability of developed tools. The results show that thermal and water transfers are strongly coupled. Hence, the thermal behavior of green roofs and green walls depend on the water availability within the growing medium. In summer and winter, measurements and numerical simulations show that green envelopes improve the energy efficiency of buildings and reduce the urban heat island.

Ce travail de thèse vise à comprendre et analyser les échanges thermiques qui ont lieu entre un bâtiment et son environnement en présence de parois végétalisées « intensives ». Nous présentons dans ce manuscrit, une démarche numérique et expérimentale sur l’évaluation de l’incidence thermique de ces Murs Végétalisés (MV). Une plateforme constituée de trois prototypes identiques (3 mini-laboratoires thermiques) sous conditions climatiques réelles a été conçue et instrumentée. Dans un premier temps, deux écrans permettant une variation rapide et graduelle des taux de couvertures de 10 à 100% ont été ajoutés devant les prototypes. Ainsi, plusieurs séries de mesures ont été effectuées et des réductions significatives au niveau des températures et des flux de chaleur ont été enregistrées et interprétées. Cette démarche expérimentale avait pour premier objectif de mettre en oeuvre une occultation artificielle et donc maîtrisée. Un premier modèle a été développé sur la base de l’écriture des équations de bilan des échanges thermiques entre la paroi à occultation variable et son environnement climatique. Ce modèle confronté aux résultats fournis par l’expérimentation apermis de valider les approches théoriques au niveau des transferts radiatifs et convectifs. Dans un deuxième temps, le premier modèle qui a été développé dans ce travail a été adapté au cas d’une occultation « réelle » par de la végétation (lierre ou vigne vierge) puis validé expérimentalement. Il a été finalement implémenté dans un code de simulation thermique dynamique de bâtiment (TRNSYS), et ainsi l’incidence thermique des murs végétalisés simples (intensifs) a pu être évaluée à l’échelle réelle d’un bâtiment. Les résultats de simulations pour un climat tempéré montrent que la présence des plantes à feuilles persistantes a un impact négatif sur la demande énergétique hivernale. A l’inverse, en période estivale, les résultats montrent que les murs végétalisés ont un intérêt au niveau de la limitation des surchauffes. Leur présence réduit alors notablement la consommation énergétique nécessaire pour « climatiser » le bâtiment et améliore ainsi le confort thermique intérieur. / This PhD thesis aims to understand and analyse the heat exchanges that occur between a building and its environment in the presence of intensive vegetated walls. In this manuscript, a numerical and experimental approach to evaluate the thermal impact of green walls is presented. A platform composed of three identical prototypes (3 thermal mini-laboratories) under real weather conditions has been designed and instrumented. As a first step, two screens permitting a rapid and gradual variation of coverage rate from 10 to 100% were added to the prototypes. Thus, several series of measurements were performed and significant reductions in temperature and heat flow were recorded and interpreted. The primary objective of this experimental approach was to implement an artificial shading and thus controlled. A first model was developed based on the writing of heat exchanges energy balance equations between the wall with variable coverage rate and its climatic environment. This model confronted to the experimental results allowed the validation of the theoreticalapproaches at the level of radiative and convective heat transfer. Secondly, the first model that was developed in this work has been adapted to the case of a "real" occultation by vegetation (Ivy or Virginia creeper) then validated experimentally.It was finally implemented in a dynamic thermal simulation code (TRNSYS), and thus the thermal impact of green walls were evaluated at the real scale of a building. Simulation results in a temperate climate show that the presence of evergreen plants has a negative impact on winter energy demand. Conversely, in summer, the results show that green walls have an interest in limiting overheating. Their presence significantly reduces energy consumption needed to cool the building and improves the indoor thermal comfort.

Marknaden och efterfrågan för begagnade varor ökar för varje år.  Däremot har detta inte lett till ett minskat uttag av planetens resurser. Många produkter har potential att tas omhand på ett mer resurseffektivt sätt än i dagsläget. Textilier och elektronikprodukter är produkter som har hög klimatbelastning. Dessa produkter saknar idag ett lättillgängligt system för återanvändning som skulle bidra till minskad nyproduktion. I takt med befolkningsökning och förtätning av Stockholm krävs nya koncept för återvinning. För en positiv utveckling är det avgörande med lättillgängliga och allmänt kända insamlingssystem.     Detta examensarbete har utgångspunkt från FN:s tre hållbarhetsmål: ekologisk, social och ekonomisk hållbarhet och ska resultera i en konceptidé och en byggnad där konceptet tillämpas. Konceptet ska ge förslag utifrån Naturvårdsverkets och Stockholm stads rapporter och visa på hur återvinning kan integreras i bebyggda miljöer och svara mot dagens behov och samtidigt skapa en social och ekonomisk vinst.   Arbetet resulterade i förslagshandlingar genom litteraturstudier och projektering för en byggnad belägen i Rinkeby, en stadsdel i nordvästra Stockholm. Byggnaden projekteras bland annat utifrån verksamhetens ytbehov, Rinkebys behov och förutsättningar. Byggnadens estetik har formats utifrån idéen om en tydlig uppdelning mellan verksamheter som förstärks med fasadens utformning. Utöver detta ska byggnaden tillföra någonting positivt till sin omgivning, med till exempel växtväggar och cykelstation med lånecyklar.    Projektet visar på goda kvalitéer att en konceptbyggnad kan berika ett område med ekologisk, social och ekonomisk hållbarhet. / The market and demand for used products is increasing year on year. However, this has not decreased our usage of the planet’s resources. Many products have the potential to be recycled more effectively. The production of textiles and electronics has a significant negative effect on the climate. Such products lack an easy and intuitive system for reuse, which would reduce such negative effects. There is a demand for new concepts regarding reuse brought about by the increasing population and density of Stockholm. Demands for easy access and public knowledge about recycling are crucial for progress.   This report will focus on the sustainable goals established by the UN: ecological, social and economic sustainability and will propose a conceptual idea and a building where the concept will be applied. The concept will propose suggestions based on reports by Naturvårdsverket (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency) and the City of Stockholm, to show how recycling can be integrated into urban areas. This will provide a solution to today’s needs and also facilitate social and economic growth in the area.   The project has resulted in draft documents through literature studies and planning for a building situated in Rinkeby, a suburb northwest outside of Stockholm. The building will be planned in line with the building’s operational area requirements and pre-requisites. The building’s aesthetics are drawn from the idea of a pronounced separation between the operations, which will be amplified by the design of the facades. Additionally, it will contribute to the quality of its environment with the use of green walls and a bicycle station.   The project shows of positive qualities that a conceptual building can enrich a neighborhood through ecological, social and economical sustainability.

När byggnader projekteras används klimatfiler från 1981-2010 för att dimensionera konstruktionen och energisystemet. Detta leder till att byggnader dimensioneras för ett klimat som varit och inte ett framtida klimat. SMHI har tagit fram olika klimatscenarier för framtiden som beskriver möjliga utvecklingar klimatet kan ta beroende på fortsatt utsläpp av växthusgaser. Dessa scenarier kallas för RCP (Representative Concentration Pathways). I denna studie används två olika klimatscenarier, RCP4,5 och RCP8,5. Siffran i namnet står för den strålningsdriving som förväntas uppnås år 2100. I RCP4,5 kommer medelårstemperaturen öka med 3 °C fram till år 2100 jämfört med referensperioden 1961-1990.  För samma tidsperiod sker en ökning på 5 °C enligt RCP8,5.  Ett flerbostadshus certifierad enligt Miljöbyggnad 2.2 nivå silver placerat i Vallentuna i Stockholms län används i denna studie som referensbyggnad. Byggnaden simuleras i programmet IDA ICE där den utsätts för RCP4,5 och RCP8,5. Resultatet visar att byggnaden inte skulle klara av kraven för Miljöbyggnad 2.2 gällande termiskt klimat sommar i något av de två klimatscenarierna. De operativa temperaturerna blir för höga i byggnaden utan att tillsätta komfortkyla.  Byggnaden ändras för att se vilka faktorer som kan förbättra resultatet gällande det termiska klimatet. Resultatet visar att värmelagringsförmåga hos byggmaterial och solavskärmning har störst påverkan på det termiska klimatet.  I studien gjordes flertal olika kombinationer av byggnadsutformningar. Enbart kombinationen av en tung stomme av betong tillsammans med fönster med lägre g-värde klarar kraven för Miljöbyggnad 2.2 i RCP4,5 och RCP8,5 utan komfortkyla. Kombinationen får lägst energianvändning i RCP8,5 av de olika kombinationerna som testats i studien.  En kombination av tung stomme av KL-trä med lågt U-värde, fönster med lägre g-värde och komfortkyla får lägst energianvändning i grundklimatet och RCP4,5 av de olika kombinationerna som testats i studien trots användningen av komfortkyla.  Frågan om vilket alternativ som är bäst ur ett hållbarhetsperspektiv är svårt att svara på. Det finns många aspekter som behöver tas i hänsyn till som byggnadens totala klimatavtryck både i tillverkning och användning. Oavsett val av konstruktion är det viktigt att projektera för att komfortkyla och solavskärmning skall kunna appliceras när ett varmare klimat råder. / When buildings are designed climate files from 1981 to 2010 are used to construct the building and its energy system. This leads to building being designed to a climate that has been and not to a future warmer climate that will come. SMHI has developed different climate scenarios for the future that describe different paths the climate can take depending on continued emissions of greenhouse gas. This climate scenarios are called RCP (Representative Concentration Pathways) In this study two of the climate scenarios, RCP4,5 and RCP8,5 are used. The number in the name stands for the radiation forcing that is expected in the year 2100.  In RCP4,5 the mean average air temperature will increase with 3 °C until year 2100 compared to the reference period 1961-1990. In the same time period RCP8,5 will increase with 5 °C.  An apartment building certified according to Miljöbyggnad 2.2 level silver placed in Vallentuna, Stockholms län is used as a reference building. The building is simulated through the simulation software program IDA ICE where it´s exposed to RCP4,5 and RCP8,5. The results demonstrate that the reference building would not meet Miljöbyggnad 2.2 requirement in the indicator about thermal comfort during summer. The operative temperature in the building is too high unless comfort cooling is used.  The design of the building changes to see what factors can improve the results regarding the thermal comfort. The results demonstrate that thermal conductivity and solar shading has the greatest impact on thermal comfort.  In this study several combinations of different building designs were made. Only the combination of a concrete frame with windows with low g-value met the requirement of Miljöbyggnad 2.2 regarding the thermal comfort during summer without using comfort cooling in RCP4,5 and RCP8,5. The combination had the lowest energy demand in RCP8,5 of all the combinations tested in the study.  A combination of cross laminated wood frame with low U-value, windows with low g-value and comfort cooling had the lowest energy demand in the original climate file and RCP4,5 despite the use of comfort cooling.  The questing about which building construction is the best from a sustainable perspective is difficult to answer. To answer that question the building´s total climate footprint in both production and use must be calculated. Regardless of the choice of building construction it is important to have in mind when designing a building that comfort cooling and solar shading should be easily applied when a warmer climate will prevail.