## 5 Conclusions  
In conclusion, the objectives of this research have been successfully fulfilled. The development of a simulation model using Trace 3D Plus has enabled a comprehensive study of the thermal environment and energy demand in residential buildings. The analysis revealed that Teresina, a city with a tropical climate in Brazil, exhibited the highest number of discomfort temperatures compared to Mediterranean climate regions. Interestingly, despite Sanlurfa and Evora sharing a Mediterranean climate, many solutions yielded similar results between Sanlurfa and Teresina, particularly in terms of roof performance. This highlights the unique thermal dynamics influenced by local climate conditions and passive design strategies. An assessment of the impact of building orientation on the thermal environment indicated that closer proximity to the equator correlates with a reduced impact of orientation on energy needs. In Mediterranean climates, the findings align with the traditional architectural design in Turkey, where homes feature distinct summer and winter rooms. Overall, the location with the greatest variation in energy demand due to orientation was Evora, where the demand could increase by up to 10% when comparing the worst orientation with the best. Wall tests demonstrated that exterior brown paint resulted in lower heating loads and higher cooling loads, whereas white paint showed the opposite behavior due to differing absorptance values. Adding thermal insulation significantly reduced heating needs but, for cooling, it should be paired with natural ventilation; otherwise, it traps heat inside the dwelling. The combination of thermal insulation with white exterior paint resulted in reductions in the annual energy demand of up to 26% for Sanlurfa. Roof insulation tests reiterated the importance of combining thermal insulation with natural ventilation during summer. White paint on roofs proved beneficial for summer but detrimental in winter, while green roofs offered positive, albeit less pronounced, benefits for both seasons. The optimal roof solutions varied, with horizontal insulated and white-painted roofs performing best for Teresina and Sanlurfa, whereas inclined roofs with insulated slopes were optimal for Evora, resulting in a 19% reduction in annual energy demand. The reduction in the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) decreased cooling demands across all countries but increased heating needs. Conversely, reducing the U-value of glazing was beneficial in all scenarios. Lowering the window-to-wall ratio (WTWR) effectively reduced cooling loads and, despite increasing heating loads, led to a significant annual energy demand reduction. Similar reductions could be achieved using double-colored glazing, which allows the use of windows to enhance human well-being while maintaining the thermal environment and energy efficiency. Furthermore, selecting more efficient glazing combined with reducing the WTWR resulted in an up to 35% reduction in annual energy demand for Evora and 19% for Sanlurfa and Teresina. Controllable internal shading that covers entire glazed areas reduced cooling loads without compromising heating needs. However, due to thermal inertia, combining internal shading with exterior retractable shading devices is preferable to avoid negatively impacting heating loads, though fixed external shading also contributed to annual demand reduction. Overall, the use of controllable interior shading led to a reduction in energy demand by up to 28% for Evora. The ventilation results underscored the importance of occupant-controlled ventilation. Uniform ventilation was optimal for Teresina, while summer ventilation was best for Sanluurfa and Evora, highlighting the benefits of airing in hot climates and the need to minimize it in cold climates. Therefore, preventing excessive infiltration is crucial in regions with both hot and cold seasons to control ventilation timing. Teresina's climate justified the use of cobogos for enhancing the thermal environment.