Advancements in coupling strategies for urban microclimate and building energy models

Urban microclimates within metropolitan landscapes exhibit pronounced deviations from their rural counterparts, exerting a substantial influence on building energy performance. The precise representation of these microclimatic variations is paramount for enhancing the fidelity of building energy simulations. This study presents a meticulous and up-to-date review of contemporary advancements in coupling strategies that integrate urban microclimate modeling with building energy models (BEMs). While significant research has been dedicated to these domains in isolation, a critical gap remains in systematically assessing the methodologies employed to interlink them. This review elucidates the principal coupling techniques, categorizing them into unidirectional and bidirectional frameworks, and critically evaluates their relative merits. Findings underscore that bidirectional coupling, despite its computational intensity, yields superior accuracy in capturing the dynamic interplay between urban microclimates and building energy performance. Conversely, unidirectional coupling, though computationally efficient, lacks dynamic reciprocity, thereby introducing potential discrepancies in energy demand estimations. Notably, the incorporation of microclimatic effects through coupling mechanisms consistently results in a discernible reduction in cooling loads and a concomitant increase in heating demands. Moreover, this study highlights prevailing challenges, including computational overhead, data synchronization complexities, and the absence of standardized integration protocols. By providing a structured classification of coupling methodologies, delineating their intrinsic advantages and limitations, and proposing avenues for future research, this review serves as a foundational reference for advancing the seamless integration of urban microclimate dynamics within BEMs.