International Transdisciplinary Approach to Sustainability …
193
(1) The constructive and structural system was made of 10 cm thick walls with
a U-value equal to 4.0 W/m
2 K which was not consistent with the Brazilian
energy efficiency regulation for any of the country’s climate. The use of thermal
insulation changed the construction process that was planned to be fast as a
cost-saving strategy.
(2) The constructive and structural system did not allow for spans large enough to
promote natural ventilation.
(3) The constructive and structural system did not allow for spatial flexibility for
different users which is basic for social housing sustainability as the user should
be able to adapt the number and dimensions of the rooms according to the family
size and needs.
(4) The constructive and structural system did not allow for increase in the window
size for natural ventilation in the bedrooms as the room should fit at least two
beds and a wardrobe in a small area not leaving room for a larger window.
(5) The use of side-scrolling opening window would be a great solution for increasing natural ventilation with low-tech and -cost. However, PBE Edifica requires
shutters for ventilation and energy efficiency, and the shutters should open to
the outside while glass would scroll to the inside of the building. Though, this
solution is not possible for the rooms’ small areas.
All these issues may be resolved with more expensive solutions, but they would
go beyond the budget limit of the federal program. Moreover, it is important to
highlight that this may not be considered a standard case in Brazil, as other contractors
adopt ceramic or concrete blocks that allow for more flexibility of the design. The
designed constructive and structural system did not follow the thermal criteria of
the regulations, although it did have some advantages, as a fast-paced construction.
The cost reduction with the fast construction process did not balance the problems
related to thermal comfort and energy efficiency. As many cases in Brazil, the impact
of construction speed and standardization of social housing development for cost
reduction supersedes sustainability and energy efficiency.
4 Sustainable Affordable Houses in the U.S.
Affordable housing in the United States is defined by federal and state governments’
laws and regulations as housing that does not cost more than 30% of an individual
or family’s earnings for associated gross costs. According to the Centre County
Affordable Housing Coalition (no date):
• When residents experience a housing cost burden paying more than 30% of their
income, several situations tend to occur.
• Residents rent instead of own, thus losing opportunities to experience the financial
benefits of owning a home.
• They have less income to spend on items beyond fulfilling their immediate needs
[i.e. food, clothes, life-sustaining medications].
193
(1) The constructive and structural system was made of 10 cm thick walls with
a U-value equal to 4.0 W/m
2 K which was not consistent with the Brazilian
energy efficiency regulation for any of the country’s climate. The use of thermal
insulation changed the construction process that was planned to be fast as a
cost-saving strategy.
(2) The constructive and structural system did not allow for spans large enough to
promote natural ventilation.
(3) The constructive and structural system did not allow for spatial flexibility for
different users which is basic for social housing sustainability as the user should
be able to adapt the number and dimensions of the rooms according to the family
size and needs.
(4) The constructive and structural system did not allow for increase in the window
size for natural ventilation in the bedrooms as the room should fit at least two
beds and a wardrobe in a small area not leaving room for a larger window.
(5) The use of side-scrolling opening window would be a great solution for increasing natural ventilation with low-tech and -cost. However, PBE Edifica requires
shutters for ventilation and energy efficiency, and the shutters should open to
the outside while glass would scroll to the inside of the building. Though, this
solution is not possible for the rooms’ small areas.
All these issues may be resolved with more expensive solutions, but they would
go beyond the budget limit of the federal program. Moreover, it is important to
highlight that this may not be considered a standard case in Brazil, as other contractors
adopt ceramic or concrete blocks that allow for more flexibility of the design. The
designed constructive and structural system did not follow the thermal criteria of
the regulations, although it did have some advantages, as a fast-paced construction.
The cost reduction with the fast construction process did not balance the problems
related to thermal comfort and energy efficiency. As many cases in Brazil, the impact
of construction speed and standardization of social housing development for cost
reduction supersedes sustainability and energy efficiency.
4 Sustainable Affordable Houses in the U.S.
Affordable housing in the United States is defined by federal and state governments’
laws and regulations as housing that does not cost more than 30% of an individual
or family’s earnings for associated gross costs. According to the Centre County
Affordable Housing Coalition (no date):
• When residents experience a housing cost burden paying more than 30% of their
income, several situations tend to occur.
• Residents rent instead of own, thus losing opportunities to experience the financial
benefits of owning a home.
• They have less income to spend on items beyond fulfilling their immediate needs
[i.e. food, clothes, life-sustaining medications].