Affordable Housing for Hot and Sub-Humid Climate in Mexico as Result of a Thermal Comfort Study

El artículo presenta un prototipo de vivienda de bajo costo desarrollada con base en estudios de campo llevados a cabo en Colima, México (clima cálido sub-húmedo). Los estudios de campo se dirigieron a un tipo de vivienda promovido por el gobierno mexicano, llamado “vivienda económica”. Son viviendas de 45 m2 construidas con muros de block de cemento y cubiertas con losas de concreto, sin aislamiento térmico. Su diseño atiende a requerimientos de costo, pero carece de criterios sobre eficiencia energética y confort térmico. A partir de los resultados de la investigación, estudiantes asesorados por profesores desarrollaron un proyecto arquitectónico, utilizando estrategias bioclimáticas como dispositivos de sombreado, masa térmica, ventilación natural (ventilación cruzada), ventilación inducida (efecto stack) y ventilación nocturna (intercambio de radiación de onda larga).A prototype of low-cost housing developed on basis of field studies carried out in Colima, Mexico (hot and sub-humid climate) is presented. Field studies were addressed to a type of affordable housing promoted by the Mexican government, called ‘vivienda económica’. These 45 m2 housings are constructed of concrete block walls and concrete slabs for roofs, without any kind of thermal insulation. Their design concept only attends cost requirements, but it lacks criteria on energy efficiency and thermal comfort. Consequently, their occupants have adapted to extreme temperatures. Besides the thermal evaluation of pre-existing housing, two field studies were carried out consisted in a poll about the occupants’ opinion concerning their houses and a thermal comfort survey according to ISO 10551, within the adaptive model approach. With results of such inquiries, undergraduate students advised by professors developed an architectural project. Main bioclimatic strategies considered were shading devices, thermal mass, natural ventilation (cross ventilation), winds induced ventilation (stack effect) and nocturnal ventilation (long-wave radiation exchange).Universidad Veracruzana