Thermal comfort is a fundamental goal of architecture aiming at protecting individuals from harsh weather conditions. In Nigeria’s savanna climate zone, such as Kaduna, poor indoor thermal comfort leads to over-reliance on air-conditioning systems. There is limited research on the application of passive design strategies in the Nigerian savanna climate, which creates a barrier to their widespread implementation in residential buildings. In response to the increased awareness of climate change and the need for sustainable design, this study explores the potential of passive design strategies, focusing on the combination of rooftop insulation and reflective materials with mechanical ventilation as a means of improving indoor thermal comfort solutions. This study conducted a 3-day field experiment of typical dwellings in Kaduna, a major city in the Nigerian savanna climate zone. The data collected from this experiment served as the basis for a simulation study using EnergyPlus software, which tested and evaluated 3 different strategies: passive design (roof insulation + reflective materials), mechanical ventilation, and a combination of passive design and mechanical ventilation. This study highlights the potential for passive design strategies to provide a more sustainable, cost-effective solution, reducing dependence on air conditioning while supporting indoor comfort. Additionally, the research methodology and insights gained offer a basis for developing future building codes in Nigeria that emphasize sustainable practices. Such codes would guide architects, builders, and policymakers in designing homes that respond to local climate needs and align with broader sustainability goals. Further research could explore additional passive measures, including advanced window technologies, shading, and natural ventilation, to maximize sustainable residential design potential in tropical savanna climates.

The data derived from Local Climate Zone (LCZ) field measurements can contribute to the construction of regional climate datasets with urban heat island (UHI) effects and accurately present urban heat island intensity (UHII) characteristics in different areas, thereby improving the accuracy of building energy consumption simulations. This study focuses on Shenyang, a severe cold-region city, as the research area. By mapping the LCZs in the central city of Shenyang and selecting eight different types of LCZ plots for field temperature measurement, the UHI effect of various LCZs in Shenyang was analyzed. Air temperature and UHII were used to evaluate the UHII characteristics of LCZs under typical meteorological conditions. Additionally, this study investigated the temperature dynamics and heating/cooling rates of each LCZ under typical meteorological days. The results reveal significant differences in UHII characteristics among LCZ types, closely related to their surface structure and land cover characteristics. These findings further validate the effectiveness of the LCZ classification method in severe cold regions. The data obtained in this study can be used as high-precision climate model parameters for urban energy consumption models and building energy efficiency models, thus making simulation results more consistent with local characteristics and enabling more accurate energy consumption predictions.