PASSIVE DESIGN STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE LOW-ENERGY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CURITIBA

Abstract

Curitiba, Brazil, is no exception having the urban poverty in Latin American contexts, the improvement of housing energy efficiency for the reduction of utility costs is highly demanded so as to alleviate housing affordability issues arising today. The new definition of affordability is relevant to utility costs and monthly incomes for low-income families. The major challenge of this study is to help these families' homes to achieve housing affordability through the practice of passive design strategies, which would contribute to raising the energy efficiency and improving the thermal comfort of living environment. The practice in turn contributes to lessening their maintenance costs savings..