Life-cycle assessment and multi-objective optimization of natural-insulated envelopes across Iranian climates

The building envelope plays a pivotal role in achieving sustainable energy performance, particularly in regions characterized by extreme climatic variations. This study investigates the holistic optimization of building envelopes—comprising walls, roofs, floors, and fenestrations—by integrating natural insulation materials with passive and smart design strategies. The research aims to enhance energy efficiency, reduce total CO₂ emissions, and improve occupants’ thermal comfort across four representative low-income climatic regions of Iran: Yazd (hot-arid), Tabriz (cold-dry), Rasht (temperate-humid), and Bandar Abbas (hot-humid). Addressing the existing research gap, the study extends beyond operational energy…