Research on Appropriate Technologies for Optimizing the Indoor Light and Thermal Environment of Traditional Stone-Slab Dwellings in Southwest Henan

Traditional stone-slab dwellings in Southwest Henan possess distinctive regional characteristics and inherent climate adaptability. However, previous studies have mainly focused on individual aspects of indoor environmental performance, while integrated optimization of daylighting, thermal environment, and renewable energy utilization under the constraints of heritage conservation has received limited attention. This study systematically evaluates the indoor light and thermal environment of traditional stone-slab dwellings through field measurements and validated numerical simulations, and proposes appropriate optimization technologies. The numerical model was first validated against field measurement data and subsequently employed to evaluate the proposed optimization strategies. The results indicate that the daylight factor in the main occupied rooms does not satisfy current standard requirements. In terms of thermal performance, indoor temperatures are excessively high in summer and excessively low in winter, while the relative humidity remains close to saturation. Based on psychrometric chart analysis and the conservation requirements of traditional dwellings, a series of optimization strategies are proposed and validated. The results demonstrate that the addition of skylights, the application of 60 mm polyurethane (PUR) insulation boards to the roof and exterior walls, and the installation of transparent Low-E insulating glass units for exterior windows are effective technologies for improving the indoor light and thermal environment of stone-slab dwellings in Southwest Henan. The potential for solar energy utilization is also evaluated. This study provides an integrated framework for the environmental optimization of traditional stone dwellings and offers practical guidance for their sustainable conservation, performance enhancement, and renewable energy utilization.