# A Methodology to Improve Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in Urban Environments
## 3 Microclimatic Analysis
The total area subject to redevelopment is approximately 19.740 m\({}^{2}\), with 11.890 m\({}^{2}\) proposed to be redeveloped using reflective materials, and the  
Figure 5: **(a)** The.INX file opens with the Envi-Spaces section; **(b)** the.SIMX file opens with the Envi-guide section. remaining are assumed to be transformed into permeable surfaces [29]. The main materials utilized in this process include whitetopping, colored asphalt, permeable concrete, and permeable interlocking concrete blocks [30; 31; 32; 33] (Figure 6). Following the design phase of the new pavements, it was necessary to create a new simulation scenario to compare it with the initial scenario and assess its effectiveness [34]. The Leonardo section of Envi-met was used to generate, in a subsequent phase, comparison scenarios that considered the differences between the conditions before and after the requalification interventions. This type of comparison was possible with various analyzed parameters. These parameters could include surface temperature, air temperature, thermal comfort indices, or other relevant factors. The second simulation scenario resulted in an overall decrease in surface temperature across the entire case study area, and the application of whitetopping provided the most significant cooling effect. The following graphical representations were produced comparing the results of the two scenarios (Figure 7). These visualizations helped the identification of the areas where the replacement of pavements provided the greatest benefits. Figure 6: Regeneration project for paved surfaces. Figure 7: Absolute difference of the surface temperatures between AS and CPS. Through the analysis of two specific points within the area (P1 and P2), it was possible to realize some more detailed temperature analyses to observe the trends over the course of a whole day (Figure 8). Specifically, it was possible to highlight that during the hottest hours, between 12:00 and 16:00, the results revealed significant temperature differences, with variations ranging from 7.5 \({}^{\circ}\)C to 9 \({}^{\circ}\)C during peak hours. Even during the remaining hours of the day, although the temperature differences were lower, improvements were still observed overall. These findings demonstrated the effectiveness of pavement replacement interventions in mitigating high temperatures and improving thermal conditions within the studied area. The changes in the outdoor environment not only affected surface temperatures but also had an impact on air temperatures [35]. The alterations in reflection phenomena caused variations in heat exchange between surfaces, which consequently influenced the convective transfer of heat from the ground to the air. As a result, the cooling effect resulting from lower surface temperatures led to a decrease in atmospheric temperature. Analyzing the trends in air temperature in the section, the most significant differences between the two scenarios were observed during the hottest hours. The storage of thermal heat near buildings played a significant role in this context. The data obtained demonstrated the benefits derived from the replacement of materials in terms of reducing air temperatures (Figure 9). The analysis highlighted the positive impact of pavement replacement interventions on the overall thermal conditions of the outdoor environment, particularly during the peak hours of heat. Figure 8: Differences in air temperature trends in AS and CPS, measured in P1 and P2.