Sensitivity study of the energy balance to urban characteristics

A detailed urban heat exchange simulation software, the Town Energy Balance (TEB), has been used to analyse the impact of urban parameters on energy balance during a summer and a winter day under Paris, France, climatic conditions. Computer runs were conducted to explore the influence of each of the urban parameters selected. The results showed that impacts of these parameters differ between summer and winter. In summer, radiative parameters like roof and wall albedo have the strongest influence on urban energy balance. Whereas in winter, thermal parameters like wall and roof thermal insulation have the strongest influence on urban energy balance. This analysis corroborates the great influence of roofs albedo on urban energy balance and its role in urban heat island (UHI) mitigation. This also points out the fact that summer UHI mitigation strategies influence urban heat balance during winter season.

► This study provides an assessment of urban parameters effects on urban energy balance.
► Urban parameters effects are not the same in winter and in summer.
► Radiative parameters are more influent in summer than in winter.
► In winter, warm buildings heat losses have the strongest influence.