Thermodynamics for physical processes and energy environmental sustainability assessment at urban scale

In the extreme environmental scenario, due to Global Warming (GW) and pollution, and in the necessary condition of energy saving and energy-environmental quality protection, this research proposes a method as a useful and effective tool for environmental, urban/architectural, energy and integrated Nature Based Solutions (NbS) design, applied at small and large scale, i.e. respectively, to the complex building-plant system and its surroundings (built, unbuilt and/or green system), and building, building stock, district and urban-built-up and/or green areas. The simple method proposed, links applied thermodynamics to physics-informed modelling of urban built-up and green areas, and allows the quantification of the energy sustainability of green ecosystem services and/or NbS in any urban area and their areal distribution in different built-up zones. The method is an effective operational tool for physical processes and energy environmental sustainability assessment at urban scale, focused on the reduction of anthropogenic impacts, urban heat islands (UHIs) mitigation, and climate change adaptation. Moreover, it provides comprehensive insights into the optimization of NBS planning based on thermodynamic energy footprint accounting, facilitating the improvement of mitigation of urban areas’ vulnerability to GW.