Design and thermal evaluation of a social housing model conceived with bioclimatic principles and recycled aggregates

The present work discloses the design and thermal evaluation of single-family houses adapted with bioclimatic principles to tropical climates - the Vila Sustentavel complex. The architectural layout of each 2-bedroom unit embraces accessibility measures and bioclimatic strategies for energy-efficiency. The envelope embodies an innovative approach: the full replacement of natural aggregates by processed steelmaking slag in all cement-based composites (mortars, concretes and concrete blocks). These building elements were characterized physically and thermally. Subsequently, the thermal performance of the buildings was evaluated through an energy simulation using the software EnergyPlus. Results indicated that the stack effect designed in the living room promotes high ventilation rates with no energy consumption. The building elements produced with steel slag presented better thermal performance than the conventional ones, due to the high thermal inertia and low thermal conductivity of the slag. In this sense, the passive strategies proposed are replicable and energy-efficient alternatives for tropical countries.