# Evaluating Resilience and Thermal Comfort in Mediterranean Dwellings: A Level(s) Framework Approach
## 1 Introduction
### Alignment with Global Sustainability Agendas  
The study directly supports several global sustainability frameworks, including the European Green Deal, the Urban Agenda 2030, and the circular economy principles. By focusing on sustainable building rehabilitation, the research contributes to resource conservation, energy efficiency, and climate resilience, aligning with international social inclusion and environmental sustainability objectives. The manuscript argues that transforming construction practices toward more sustainable and resilient models--centred on urban regeneration--is essential to addressing the challenges of an ageing population and energy poverty. Regeneration offers numerous benefits: it reduces the environmental impact of new developments, promotes affordable and energy-efficient housing, and enhances social and economic well-being, especially for vulnerable groups. Regenerating existing urban spaces can also revitalize deteriorated areas, fostering inclusive and socially cohesive communities. In conclusion, the research underscores the importance of regenerating existing buildings to meet environmental and social goals and create more adaptable, accessible, and equitable urban spaces for future generations. Comparison Between Existing Literature, Level(s) Framework and Current Study on Building Resilience and Thermal Comfort  
Building resilience and thermal comfort have been recurring themes in research on urban sustainability and climate change adaptation. Building resilience understood as the ability of buildings to withstand and adapt to extreme conditions without losing functionality, has been extensively explored in previous studies. Numerous studies have focused on adaptive design strategies as key mechanisms for enhancing building resilience in the face of extreme weather events. These strategies include using innovative technologies and building materials, enabling adaptability over time [16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21]. On the other hand, thermal comfort in the built environment has primarily been studied from the perspective of occupant health and well-being, particularly in contexts of energy poverty. Research has examined how indoor temperature, relative humidity, and natural ventilation affect residents' thermal perceptions. Furthermore, several studies have linked inadequate thermal conditions to adverse health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable groups such as older adults and low-income individuals, for whom poorly insulated homes and ineffective heating systems exacerbate issues related to energy poverty [22; 23; 24; 25]. Within the context of urban sustainability, the Level(s) framework has emerged as a pivotal tool for the comprehensive assessment of building sustainability. Developed by the European Commission, this framework introduces a set of indicators designed to evaluate the environmental, social, and economic impact of buildings throughout their entire life cycle. Specifically, Indicators 2.3 and 4.2 are of relevance for addressing crucial aspects of thermal resilience and thermal comfort in buildings. Indicator 2.3 of Level(s) focuses on design for adaptability and renovation, assessing the ability of buildings to adapt to future changes in use or climatic conditions. This approach enhances the resilience of buildings to climate change, ensuring they can efficiently adapt over their life span. Indicator 4.2, which specifically addresses thermal comfort and the building's ability to maintain suitable thermal conditions, is closely aligned with the need to ensure that buildings are not only energy-efficient but also provide a healthy and comfortable indoor environment for occupants, regardless of external climatic variations. The present study, which focuses on developing a model for resilient housing rehabilitation using the Level(s) framework, differs from previous research in several key aspects.