The Purpose of the Design Guide Supplement

The primary motivation behind this guide is to reconcile aggressive energy performance goals with the user experience in the built environment. Mean outdoor temperature increases of 1.3–2.7°C by 2050 have been predicted by climate simulations (Mulville et al., 2025) (UCAR, 2024), and this can significantly affect indoor thermal conditions and increase overheating risk in NZEBS, another factor that is affected by this is the indoor air quality, as these are directly linked to the external temperature in a way.

The rise in temperature is due to Climate Change.

Increase in pollutants due to Global Warming.

The strategies presented in this guide are intended to support resilient, future-proof designs that constantly remain effective under both current and projected future climate conditions.

Who Is This For?

This guide is a resource for

Local Government

Local government staff, including planners, urban designers, and potentially others, can support the establishment of resilient buildings by promoting the submission of applications for which building climate change adaptation strategies are included within their design. Cities can use this guide for learning and advocacy for resilient building practices.

Architect & Engineers

This is to equip them with practical strategies and performance metrics to design resilient, sustainable buildings that are well-equipped to withstand rising temperatures, enhancing the well-being and satisfaction of the occupants in those dwellings.

Homeowners

This guideline is intended to assist dwellers in understanding the factors that promote thermal comfort and well-being in energy-efficient homes.