Simulation Study on the Influence of Green Space Layout on Microclimates and Thermal Comfort in Residential Areas of Shenyang, China

As climate extremes increase, summers in colder regions are getting hotter, negatively impacting the health of residents. This study uses ENVI-met to simulate and analyze typical old residential areas in Shenyang to explore the changes in residential area thermal environment and human thermal comfort under different green space layouts, as well as the relationship between greening rate and human thermal comfort index UTCI. The research results show that in row-type residential areas dominated by central green spaces, the combination of green spaces and roads in the north and south directions can form the largest thermal “comfort” zone. There is a positive correlation between the “comfortable” coverage area and the green coverage area of the UTCI index. The research in this article provides empirical evidence for residential area planners to choose green space layout plans that are more effective in improving residents’ outdoor experience.