To ensure the building is capable of providing an appropriate level of thermal comfort.

• Reduce the risk to occupier comfort, health and wellbeing from extreme or unacceptable winter and summer indoor temperatures.
• Provide future proofing of the building to maximise its ability to provide adequate thermal comfort for projected climate change scenarios
• Reduce the impact on costs and the environment through wasted heat, or from the specification of complex and costly systems such as air-conditioning.

Research has shown that extreme temperatures are associated with an increased risk of illness, and have an immediate effect on health and wellbeing. It is also recognised that measures taken to improve energy efficiency, such as increased airtightness, thermal insulation levels etc. have the potential to result in more instances of overheating in summer. With a changing climate, both under and overheating are an increasing problem in the buildings. Effective temperature regulation is therefore an integral part of ensuring a healthy and comfortable internal environment. Achieving thermal comfort is dependent on the building being designed to allow for seasonal changes and occupier preferences.

However it is also important to consider future temperatures which are expected throughout the lifetime of the building, so as to ensure future thermal comfort. The use of robust thermal modelling supports an energy efficient design while also ensuring environmental comfort in-use.

Designing the building with thermal zones and controls ensures building user comfort by enabling a level of occupant control Modelling with consideration of a range of projected climate change environment allows future-proofing of the building for projected climate conditions.