Prestazioni termiche e percezione di comfort in edifici con tetti ventilati e traspiranti [Thermal performance and comfort perception in buildings with ventilated and breathable roofs]

This paper examines the summer performance of ventilated, breathable claytile roofs installed on two social housing buildings in Reggio Emilia (Italy) within the EU LIFE SUPERHERO project. The study focuses on overheating, urban heat island mitigation and the renewed relevance of roofs in passive cooling. The buildings underwent a twophase retrofit—first the vertical envelope, then new pitched HBR (HerotilesBased Roof) systems—tested in two variants: Portuguese tiles on one building and Marseille tiles on the other. Monitoring across four summers (2022–2025) assessed roof thermal behaviour, indoor conditions, cooling energy use and occupants’ adaptive actions. Results indicate lower external roof temperatures compared to the original flat roofs, reduced ceiling temperatures, decreased heat gains and significantly lower cooling demand. Occupant feedback aligns with the measurements, reporting improved thermal comfort, reduced reliance on airconditioning and higher satisfaction postrenovation. The study confirms ventilated claytile roofs as durable, effective passive solutions for summer comfort and cooling energy reduction in residential buildings.