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Comfort within Budget: Assessing the Cost-Effectiveness of Envelope Improvements in Single-Family Affordable Housing

Author

Listed:
  • Renata Tubelo

    (Buildings, Energy and Environment Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • Lucelia Rodrigues

    (Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • Mark Gillott

    (Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • May Zune

    (Azura BIM Solutions (Yangon) and Shwe Eain Construction (Bhamo), Hlaing 11051, Myanmar)

Abstract

In Brazil, the delivery of homes for low-inc ome households is dictated by costs rather than performance. Issues such as the impact of climate change, affordability of operational energy use, and lack of energy security are not taken into account, even though they can severely impact the occupants. In this work, the authors evaluated the thermal performance of two affordable houses as-built and after the integration of envelope improvements. A new replicable method to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of these improvements was proposed. The case study houses comprise the most common affordable housing type delivered widely across Brazil and a proposition of a better affordable housing solution, built in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil, integrating passive design strategies to increase thermal comfort. The findings reveal a potential for improving indoor thermal conditions by up to 76% and 73%, respectively, if costs are not a concern, and 40% and 45% with a cost increase of 12% and 9% if a comfort criterion of 20–25 °C was considered. Equations to estimate costs of improvements in affordable housing were developed. The authors concluded that there is a great scope for building envelope optimisation, and that this is still possible without significant impact on budget.

Suggested Citation

  • Renata Tubelo & Lucelia Rodrigues & Mark Gillott & May Zune, 2021. "Comfort within Budget: Assessing the Cost-Effectiveness of Envelope Improvements in Single-Family Affordable Housing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3054-:d:514681
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ghisi, Enedir & Gosch, Samuel & Lamberts, Roberto, 2007. "Electricity end-uses in the residential sector of Brazil," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(8), pages 4107-4120, August.
    2. Pacheco, Miguel & Lamberts, Roberto, 2013. "Assessment of technical and economical viability for large-scale conversion of single family residential buildings into zero energy buildings in Brazil: Climatic and cultural considerations," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 716-725.
    3. Triana, Maria Andrea & Lamberts, Roberto & Sassi, Paola, 2015. "Characterisation of representative building typologies for social housing projects in Brazil and its energy performance," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 524-541.
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    1. Le-Minh Ngo & Hai-Binh Nguyen & Thi-Phuong Uyen Nguyen & Thi-Minh Dieu Nguyen, 2021. "On Transforming Unused Urban Spaces to Social Housing for Self-Employed People in Ho Chi Minh City: An Architectural Space Design Proposal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-16, November.

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