Our analysis and innovations
Summer comfort is becoming a key requirement in real estate projects. However, few projects are able to design it in advance, simulate it robustly and then demonstrate it on site. There's often a gap between announcement and operational reality. At Arkoris, we have structured an integrated response, drawing on the expertise of Arkemep (thermal engineering, STD), Arkenor (environmental management) and IRICE (certification). The objective is clear: to move from promises to proof, and to ensure that summer comfort is part of a performance-based approach.
Setting the challenge: summer comfort and performance in use
Summer comfort is neither a collateral effect of the label, nor an adjustment variable. It's a technical requirement in its own right, which means considering :
- the actual thermal inertia of buildings
- the dynamics of solar protection
- ventilation systems (natural, night-time, mechanical)
- usage behavior
- the site's microclimatic context
All too often, the subject doesn't emerge until the execution phase. By then, it's too late. We need to integrate this requirement right from the design phase.
Combining engineering, project management and certification
With Arkemep, we integrate dynamic thermal simulations (DTS) right from the design stage, focusing on critical periods (heat waves, long sequences of high temperatures). These simulations help identify weak points and guide design choices accordingly.
With Arkenor, we provide a framework for anticipating actual use in the environmental assistance mission. Summer comfort is addressed in relation to the needs of future users: occupancy schedules, rhythms of life, ventilation strategy, expectations in terms of regulation.
With IRICE, we document and certify expected performance based on tangible indicators: degree-hours of discomfort, rate of occurrence of exceedance, overheating time. Certification is not based on generic labels, but on contextualized proof, linked to the reality of the project.
Application examples
On several projects in dense urban areas, the coordinated implementation of these three approaches has enabled :
- a measured reduction of +3 to +5°C in heatwave periods compared with regulatory benchmarks
- eliminating the use of active air conditioning in commercial buildings
- complete documentation in the tender documents, integrated into the performance clauses
These results are not intentions: they are derived from simulated data, cross-referenced with actual usage constraints.
Certify less, certify just
Summer comfort can't be reduced to a line in a sales brochure. It requires engineering, method and accountability.
Rather than adding one label to another, our logic is the opposite: to reduce the layers, reinforce the rigor, and bring out what is really useful to the project owner and users. Fair certification means aligning method, proof and real impact. Without storytelling. Without hype.
Conclusion
Between greenwashing and overpromising, there's still room for sober, concrete approaches focused on use. We occupy this space with Arkoris Group tools, in the service of verifiable environmental performance.