Thermal Comfort and Satisfaction in the Context of Social Housing: Case Study in Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract

Thermal comfort and satisfaction have been little studied in the context of social housing. Post-occupancy evaluations and research on occupant’s satisfaction are particularly scarce. This article examines and characterises this problem through the detailed analysis of a case study in Bogotá, Colombia, which is representative of a large percentage of the current housing stock in the country and similar regions in Latin America. The construction of high-rise social housing in major cities like Bogotá has soared in recent years, due to population growth and displacement. However, there are serious concerns regarding its built quality. The methodology used in this study combines analysis through the perspectives of the static and the adaptive models and the interpretation of modes of adaptive behaviour. Data was collected during fieldwork via various means, including temperature and relative humidity measurements, observations and structured occupant surveys. Results give new insights regarding thermal comfort deficiencies and low levels of occupant’s satisfaction in all apartments studied. Additional findings highlight the adequacy of the models used for the analysis and identify opportunities for improvement. This could be of interest to academics, policymakers, construction stakeholders and housing users.