Linking Indoor Thermal Comfort with Climate, Energy, Housing, and Living Conditions: Portuguese Case in European Context

João Delgado (), Ana Mafalda Matos and Ana Sofia Guimarães
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João Delgado: CONSTRUCT, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Ana Mafalda Matos: CONSTRUCT, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Ana Sofia Guimarães: CONSTRUCT, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 16, 1-22

Abstract: Even though the milder climate scenario and constant evolution of thermal building regulation are in light of European initiatives, in Portugal, there are few houses where occupants can remain all the time in perfectly comfortable temperature conditions without resorting to heating or cooling. According to the Long Term Strategy for the Renewal of Buildings (ELPRE), this results from the combination of several factors, namely, low energy use for air conditioning compared to energy needs and aged building stock with poor energy performance. In fact, around 70% of the dwellings currently certified have low energy efficiency (C or less). The purpose of this review article was to analyse and discuss the factors affecting indoor thermal comfort, the inability to keep the home adequately warm in winter and cool in summer, and the risk of poverty or social exclusion in the European context, namely in Portugal. It fills the gap in the literature researching and analysing the motivations for these lower consumptions in Southern Europe, being Portugal a paradigmatic case. The current work integrates the indoor thermal comfort evolution and the current situation in Portugal in the EU context through different thermal comfort indicators and linking with the other statistics data, which may impact the indoor thermal comfort.

Keywords: indoor thermal comfort; thermal building policies; residential buildings; Mediterranean climates (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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