This work presents the results of research made within the framework of the Solar Decathlon LAC 2019 international competition, which aimed at designing and building a prototype of a TUHOUSE (Technically Unique House Using Solar Energy) affordable dwelling, at a 1:1 scale, a house that is capable of incorporating sustainable and bioclimatic strategies for the tropical region. The methodology consisted of a design workshop with interdisciplinary work from the different architecture and engineering areas in programs at the Universities of San Buenaventura and Autonoma de Occidente (Cali, Colombia). The main contribution of the methodology was to achieve interdisciplinary work from the initial stages, alongside students and teachers participating in the construction of the prototype, before finally checking its performance using the contest’s tests. Among the results that stand out from of this experience, are an urban proposal with high habitability and density, the testing of passive design strategies focused on a prototype envelope that can be replicated in similar conditions, but also the importance of the question about the validity of the thermal comfort model proposed for tropical regions.

El desempeño bioclimático de edificaciones en escenarios de cambio climático ha sido ampliamente estudiado desde la perspectiva termo-energética, pero escasamente abordado desde la suficiencia lumínica interior. Esta escasez está relacionada con la invariabilidad de los datos de radiación en los archivos climáticos disponibles de escenarios futuros. La presente investigación propone identificar los impactos que, sobre la suficiencia lumínica, tendría la variabilidad de datos de radiación en archivos climáticos de escenarios futuros. La metodología incluye la adaptación de archivos climáticos disponibles y la realización de simulaciones computacionales de luz natural para espacios de trabajo hipotéticos localizados en Medellín, Colombia. Los resultados evidencian diferencias en la métrica Spatial Daylight Autonomy – SDA de hasta 18% en diversos escenarios futuros. Como conclusión, se plantea la necesidad de afinar las predicciones sobre la disponibilidad lumínica exterior que permitan optimizar las evaluaciones de desempeño lumínico en escenarios de cambio climático.

Climate change has driven humanity to develop strategies aimed at slowing its progression, mitigating its negative impacts, and adapting to the new climatic reality we are already facing. However, the lack of precision in projections of future changes in temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, solar radiation, among other variables, hinders the formulation of concrete mitigation and adaptation strategies, particularly at local or regional scales. Despite this, there are recognized efforts to define future climate change scenarios, to elaborate future weather data files, and to establish future comfort ranges, which could facilitate, among other aspects, the prediction of changes in the bioclimatic performance of buildings. This paper aims to review recent advances in forecasting the bioclimatic performance of buildings under future climate scenarios, based on a systematic review of 101 studies. The findings were grouped into categories that enabled conclusions about both scientific progress and existing gaps in the field. The review preliminarily suggested that passive design strategies in naturally conditioned buildings, as well as in those dependent on heating and cooling systems, may be insufficient under projected climate conditions. Therefore, it highlights the need for more reliable future climate data to decisively incorporate climate change–aligned strategies into architectural or urban design decision-making—along with the need for more studies on these topics, particularly in tropical regions.

One of greatest challenges is to avoid the increase of 1.5° by 2100. Accordingly, bioclimatic design allows consider energy demand and building performance. The thermal and lighting performance of hypothetical offices in Cali, a city of the tropics, in Colombia, is presented. Were studied using parametric simulations with Rhino 3D and Grasshopper software and plugins Ladybug, Honeybee, and Colibri. Future A2 climate scenarios were evaluated for mid-term (2050) and long-term (2080), generated by the IPCC, and these files were modified by 10% increases and decreases in global radiation data. Additionally, 36 simulations were performed with different passive strategies to improve performance. The results show an increase in energy demand and a decrease in thermal comfort in future scenarios, especially for west-facing facades. However, there was an antagonism in the lighting results, where better lighting quality was achieved with higher energy demand. Therefore, it is necessary to consider all aspects when selecting optimal strategies that guarantee the current and future performance of buildings.