# Evaluating Resilience and Thermal Comfort in Mediterranean Dwellings: A Level(s) Framework Approach
## 1 Introduction
Adopting this strategic approach will allow the construction sector to align with the commitments outlined in the Urban Agenda 2030 [7], the European Green Deal [8], the New European Bauhaus [9], and the principles of the circular economy, which have become key policies for developing more efficient resource conservation strategies. In response to these challenges, Level(s) has been established as a common EU framework that includes key indicators to assess the sustainability of residential and office buildings [10]. This framework can be applied from the early stages of conceptual design to the planned end-of-life phase of a building. Beyond its primary focus on environmental performance, Level(s) also facilitates the evaluation of other critical performance-related aspects through indicators and tools that address health and well-being, life cycle costs, and future performance risks. Specifically, Indicator 2.3, which focuses on design for adaptability and renewal, proposes a process that assists in designing and renovating currently obsolete housing, maximizing resilience to climate, functional, and socioeconomic challenges. Additionally, Indicator 4.2 measures the duration during which building occupants experience thermal comfort and assesses a building's ability to maintain predefined thermal comfort specifications during warm and cold weather conditions. Consequently, this research aims to establish a resilient housing rehabilitation methodology based on the Level(s) framework. To achieve the objectives of this study, the following method has been outlined (see Figure 1): (i) assessment of the current resilience of the pilot case using Level(s); (ii) design of innovative and resilient housing configurations, along with an analysis of opportunities and constraints of the project based on **Level(s)**; (iii) evaluation of the duration outside the thermal comfort range for older adults; and (iv) cost amortization analysis. The manuscript highlights the urgent need to rethink traditional construction practices to create a more sustainable, flexible, and accessible future. This shift is particularly critical considering growing challenges such as the ageing population and increasing energy poverty--issues affecting citizens' quality of life and threatening urban environments' long-term sustainability. Figure 1: Case study (CS). CS-1, model plant (**a**) and base proposal (**b**); CS-2 model plant (**c**) and base proposal (**d**). The red lines correspond to the mobile panels. The research focuses on developing an integrated, adaptable, resilient housing rehabilitation model. This model, derived from a comprehensive research process, aims to accommodate a wide range of tenant needs, considering thermal comfort, cost-effectiveness, durability, and return on investment. By analyzing the metabolic energy index in older adults, the study will help adapt housing solutions and review comfort standards to better meet the needs of vulnerable populations. The manuscript explores the primary impacts, theoretical foundations, and statistical data related to the rapid growth of urban construction and its effects on the environment, the economy, public health, and social well-being. It identifies:  
Environmental Impacts: Urban construction accounts for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of GHG emissions in the EU, highlighting the sector's substantial environmental footprint. * Economic and Social Impacts: Approximately 54 million Europeans are affected by energy poverty, struggling with high energy costs and inefficient housing. Furthermore, 15% of the EU population lives in inadequate housing conditions [11]. * Demographic Impacts: With 16% of the global population projected to be over 65 years old by 2050, the ageing population creates a need for adaptable housing solutions [5]. * Energy Poverty: Defined as the inability to afford essential energy services, it affects millions in the EU. * Active Aging: Promotes housing designs that meet older adults' needs based on universal design principles and age-friendly cities.