Thermal autonomy of mobile homes under changing urban climate in Phoenix, AZ

Residents of Phoenix AZ experience overheating during summer. Air conditioning (AC) systems are the main strategy for indoor thermal comfort. However, the associated energy costs can lead low-income residents to ration or avoid mechanical cooling. Further, a summertime power outage can make mechanical cooling unavailable. In this study, indoor thermal conditions were compared inside five archetypical single-family naturally ventilated mobile homes in Phoenix. Passive cooling strategies were applied, including window openings and a combination of cool roof and external shade surfaces. Simulations in EnergyPlus run for a 5-year regional climate for the start of the century (SOC, 2000–2004) and the middle of the century (MOC, 2050–2054). It was demonstrated that different approaches for daytime and nighttime should be combined in order to optimize passive cooling. Specifically, the combination of a white roof, window shadings, and awnings resulted in a 7.1% reduction in hours of discomfort at SOC, and a 4.2% reduction by MOC. This study contributes to a broader understanding of passive solutions to mitigate overheating in mobile homes, which potentially leads to energy efficiency by reducing the hours of AC use and a decrease in associated health problems.