Thermal Performance of Social Housing- A Study Based on Brazilian Regulations

This paper aims to discuss how the propagation of a house design adopted by federal programs to solve Brazil's housing shortage can affect human thermal comfort. The study was based on Brazilian regulatory instruments and analysis from computer simulations. Comparisons were made between concrete and brick walls; as well as ceramic, concrete and fiber cement tiles. In general, results indicate that the use of ceramic tiles, light colors on walls and roofing and aluminium sheeting for roofs provide the best thermal performance. Concrete and dark colors on walls and roofs tend to cause inferior thermal performance. Correct use of materials together with a good implementation strategy that prioritizes location-specific factors is essential to provide comfort and energy efficiency to dwellings.