The Impact of Roofing Systems on the Environmental Performance of Buildings in Basra, Iraq

The environment of Basra city is characterized by being hot and humid in summer and moderate in winter.This causes the upper floors of dwellings and outdoor spaces to become excessively hot and unusable.Moreover, sometimes, they are the primary source of heat transfer into the dwelling.Therefore, users sometimes use coverings for some spaces to obtain a usable space.Thus, the research formulates its problem as the need to study the role of space coverage in the architectural and environmental revitalization of spaces.Several studies have highlighted the importance of roofs concerning their shape, materials, and role in buildings.This study aims to assess the impact of roofing systems on the environmental performance of residential buildings in Basra.This study employs two approaches: a questionnaire survey conducted on a randomly selected community sample and an environmental simulation model analyzing the effects of roof modifications on building performance.The study shows that roofing systems can reduce indoor temperatures by 1.2 to 2, thereby improving thermal comfort in Basra's hot climate.