Hydrothermal Evaluation of Vernacular Housing: Comparing Case Studies of Waste PET Bottles, Stone, and Adobe Houses

• Published in: Buildings (Basel) 2022-08, Vol.12 (8), p.1162
• Main Authors: Soto, Flavio Roberto Ceja, Bueno, José de Jesús Pérez, Mendoza López, Maria Luisa, Chavela, Martín Hernández, Ramos, Martha Elva Pérez, Manzano-Ramírez, Alejandro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Building construction; Case studies; Clay; Climate; Climatic zones; concrete; Construction materials; Green buildings; Houses; Housing; Housing developments; Humidity; mortar; Parameters; PET; Polyethylene terephthalate; Population growth; Prototypes; Relative humidity; Residential areas; Residential buildings; reuse; Sensors; Sustainability; Thermal analysis; Thermal insulation; Thermography; Thermometers; waste treatment
• ISSN: 2075-5309; 2075-5309
• DOI: 10.3390/buildings12081162

This work shows the humidity and thermal evaluation of different case studies of houses. The analyses focused on room prototypes and houses built in different regions of Querétaro, México. Three different climatic zones were included with the evaluations of houses and prototypes. The assessments of internal and external parameters in residential buildings are also shown. The internal parameter measurements were done with hydro-thermometers and thermography images. Six structures were evaluated, one of the conventional housing materials and five of alternative or vernacular materials. The predicted mean vote (PMV) and the predicted percentage dissatisfied (PPD) were determined using the average temperature and relative humidity values, and they were considered to be dynamic because they can change depending on many factors. The six dwelling insulating properties were associated with their construction materials, design, location, and other factors. The six houses have many differences, but considering their behavior in their location, the two floor porous stone house got the best results. On the contrary, the flagstone house with a gabled roof of galvanized sheets had a cold perception despite many advantageous elements, failing to provide comfort in such a cold location. Contrasting these with other adobe constructions, the analyzed one had low thermal insulation, which was explained by its characteristics. PET and adobe uninhabited prototypes had medium to cold perceptions. The PET prototype has excellent and adjustable insulations, both on temperature and RH, considering the passive illumination and ventilation of its glass bottle skylights.