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Abstract: Experimental research carried out on two types of buildings that are the examples of vernacular architecture in Southern Italy, namely the Sassi of Matera and the Trulli of Alberobello are outlined in this paper. Experimental measurements on thermal properties, energy performance and hygrothermal indoor comfort were carried out to validate the numerical code provided by DesignBuilder/EnergyPlus that was used to investigate the buildings on a yearly basis. The very high thermal mass of the building structures give rise to a quasi-constant seasonal indoor temperature with no need for air conditioning in the mid- and peak-summer seasons. The seasonal thermal storage can almost guarantee near the comfort levels using simple heating systems during the cold season. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The site of the “Sassi of Matera” classified by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as World Heritage in 1993, is an exceptional example of traditional bioclimatic Mediterranean architecture. Within this immense artistic heritage, we find hypogea habitations, stone buildings, and mixed habitation – half-hypogeum and half-built. In this study, we analyze the energy and microclimatic performance of hypogeous structures in three states: not-restored, immediately after restoration, and a few years after restoration (in normal use). We monitored a surface hypogeum and a deep hypogeum. We performed a dynamic parametric simulation using the software EnergyPlus to quantify the energetic balance of the hypogeous structures during one calendar year. The energetic valuation of the surface hypogea shows that these environments, once restored and in a condition of normal use, give indoor comfort within the limits of comfort thermo-hygrometrics established by the comfort indices of predicted mean vote (PMV) and predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD). The huge thermal mass of the walls ensures that the microclimate indoor conditions are regular throughout the seasons, without differences in the daily thermal oscillation. Deep hypogea without an air change system cannot reach thermal-hygrometric comfort values. We determined that these structures have a null thermal balance during mid-season, while in the summer the floor loses heat, thereby cooling the environment. The opposite occurs in winter. We can conclude that these buildings were designed as bioclimatic. In fact they can be used, after restoration, with limited use of technology systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]