A diachronic methodology for evaluating energy impacts in social housing

Abstract

Social housing should be understood not as a static architectural object, but as a dynamic process that transforms throughout its useful life, particularly through residential expansions, which constitute a structural phase of the housing production cycle in Latin American contexts. These growth processes, mostly self-managed by households, often develop without energy efficiency criteria, generating significant impacts during the use phase. This article proposes a diachronic evaluation methodology aimed at analyzing residential expansions as a constitutive part of the social housing life cycle, integrating the evolution of the architecture, the building envelope, energy performance, and usage patterns. The methodology adopts a mixed-methods approach, both qualitative and quantitative, and is structured in six sequential stages that combine architectural surveys, actual energy consumption data, and multivariate statistical techniques. The results make it possible to identify differentiated patterns of residential growth and key variables with the greatest impact on energy performance. Furthermore, guidelines for efficient expansion are formulated, aimed at reducing energy consumption, associated emissions, and economic costs. The work provides a methodological tool, with potential application in public policies aimed at managing the growth of social housing.