Purpose: This paper analyses Roman fish tanks, which have functional elements that could be used to research on palaeo-sea-levels. Thus, the conditions of 37 installations in the Western Mediterranean basin are reviewed to identify those that have the best environmental and constructive conditions to be analyzed.Design/methodology/approach: The methodology was largely based on the review of existing scientific bibliography dealing with sea-level variations from studies on historical constructions, existing historical documentation on Roman fish tanks on the Mediterranean coast, as well as the fieldwork carried out in fish tanks on the Mediterranean coasts.Findings: The Roman coastal fish tanks located in the shoreline of the Western Mediterranean Sea have turned out to be an excellent indicator of sea-level changes. Nevertheless, current coastal retreat, erosion and storm surges are posing significant threats to their preservation, and they could be considered as a heritage at risk of disappearance. Moreover, variations in the tectonic behaviour of the different coastal sectors make it challenging to select these facilities as an indicator of the sea level.Originality/value: The analysis of Late Holocene sea-level changes and palaeoenvironments from archaeological and biological evidences, although not without difficulties, is very convenient because it provides very precise data that cannot be obtained with other absolute dating methods. This approach is increasingly gaining popularity with researchers and is very innovative in its method of combining the results of several scientific disciplines.

This study experimentally analyses the thermal behavior of different paint coatings applied to common building envelopes under winter conditions. The aim is to evaluate their influence on heat transfer. Nine airtight cubic prototypes with 50 cm sides were constructed using three representative support materials: self-protected bituminous membrane, steel metal sheet, and ceramic tile. For each material, three configurations were tested: uncoated, coated with a high-performance white acrylic paint, and coated with a high-performance white coating (Q+TERMIK). Measurements were carried out under real outdoor exposure during a typical winter day in Valencia (Spain). The methodology combined infrared thermography to record the external surface temperature with internal sensors to monitor the thermal evolution inside the prototypes. The results show that the application of white coatings significantly reduces the external surface temperature even under winter solar radiation conditions. The greatest differences were observed in materials with low thermal inertia, particularly the metal sheet, where the high-performance white coating achieved the lowest surface temperature values, showing a 13.75% reduction compared to standard solutions. In internal analysis, the painted prototypes exhibited smoother thermal curves, lower thermal amplitude, and reduced peaks associated with direct solar radiation. Thermal amplitude was reduced by up to 8.4 °C (31.8%) in the metal prototype and 7.4 °C (25.9%) in the bituminous membrane prototype. This behavior implies a lower rate of heat exchange with the exterior and greater stability of the indoor environment. It is therefore concluded that reflective coatings are not only effective in summer for limiting overheating, but also contribute in winter to improving thermal stability, constituting a passive energy-efficiency strategy with favorable performance throughout the year.

The Arab baths of Hernando de Zafra, popularly known as Casa de las Tumbas, are found at the intersection of calle Elvira and calle San Andrés in the historic centre of Granada (Spain). This article presents a thermodynamic study of the environmental operation of this complex of Arab baths, which has a furnace and hot, warm, and cold rooms, as well as auxiliary adjoining spaces and annexes. Computer models are used for the finite element analysis of the fluid dynamics for the process of lighting the furnace and subsequently diffusing the temperature, and smoke is expelled through the chimneys. The FDS software used—verified and validated by the NIST—processes the conditions for lighting the furnace and the thermal transmission of the generated heat to the different rooms in the building. This is the first case of this software being used for an analysis of the ancient Arab baths. The results show the global thermal behaviour, and the conclusions establish the temperatures reached inside the rooms and the thermal energy contributions needed to reach these temperatures.

The climate change that the planet is suffering from is increasingly affecting cities and the buildings that make them up. In response to this, new construction is incorporating architectural design considerations and selecting materials that minimize the environmental impact on buildings. These practices include improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions through innovative and sustainable construction systems. However, buildings that are already constructed must adapt and find solutions that can improve interior thermal comfort through materials and construction systems capable of insulating buildings more efficiently. Small towns and historic centres in very hot areas have demonstrated adaptation to high temperatures through construction techniques and the use of traditional materials. An example of this is the application of white coatings on their facades and roofs, which leads to greater reflection of thermal radiation and results in less heat transmission to the interior of the home. It is crucial that these buildings be modified to adequately respond to rising temperatures and extreme weather conditions. This communication is based on an experiment to quantify the thermal transmission that occurs in six construction materials used in facades and roofs when a pictorial coating is applied to their surface. Specifically, it analyses the effectiveness in thermal transmission of a material to which a traditional white coating and a paint with a specific formulation are applied, to quantify the differences and effectiveness in the energy savings produced. This type of research is vital for developing construction strategies that are not only effective in terms of cost and energy efficiency but also respect and preserve architectural heritage. It ensures that the solutions adopted are sustainable in the long term and appropriate for each specific context. These efforts are essential to mitigate the effects of climate change in urban and rural environments, contributing to a more sustainable future for all.

El baño árabe de Hernando de Zafra se encuentra enclavado al pie de la calle Elvira, en su cruce con el callejón de San Andrés, en pleno centro histórico de Granada. El conjunto, popularmente denominado también como Casa de las Tumbas, incluye su horno o caldera, sala caliente, sala templada, sala fría y espacios adyacentes auxiliares o anexos. Esta investigación aspira a comprender mejor el funcionamiento termodinámico de los baños árabes históricos, en general, y del baño de Hernando de Zafra, en particular, el desempeño de la caldera, la leña necesaria, la apertura/cierre de las lucernas, la inercia térmica del conjunto, etc. La exhaustiva toma de datos realizada en el edificio ha permitido modelizar el conjunto a un nivel de gran detalle, con sus lucernas, vanos, conductos, hipocausto, pavimentos sobre el mismo, etc. Todos estos datos han sido transferidos a un modelo arquitectónico virtual que ha permitido ensayar la casuística de situaciones que pueden acontecer durante las fases de encendido y puesta en marcha, mantenimiento y apagado de la instalación. El modelo permite conocer detalles que nunca antes se habían podido imaginar o aventurar únicamente partiendo de la mera observación de los restos arqueológicos y arquitectónicos del conjunto. Las conclusiones aportan importantes datos para el conocimiento del funcionamiento real de estos baños y su metodología es aplicable al análisis de otros casos similares.