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In the context of the search for the necessary improvement of the quality and performance of social housing in Brazil, the work presents results of survey and characterization of projects of Housing Projects of Social Interest-EHIS filed and approved in the municipality of Indaiatuba-SP after the date of entry in force of the Housing Building Performance Standard ABNT NBR 15575: 2013. The projects were surveyed and characterized as to the income range of the residents, urban insertion of the enterprises, typologies of the buildings, construction systems adopted. The degree of compliance of the projects with NBR 15575 was then carried out, specifically with regard to the factors of Habitability called Functionality and Accessibility. Such research generates reflections and contributes to the professional training, mainly of architects and urban planners, regarding the valorization of the current regulatory context in the theme of housing in the city and of decent housing as a fundamental human right. The knowledge base generated on EHIS projects can support future evaluations to verify performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation of the durability of materials and of construction systems involves the identification of several agents that attack the environment, in tropical countries, such as Brazil, climatic factors tend to intensify the problems related to the durability of constructive elements. The façade of buildings are the ones that suffer the most from climate change, as they oscillate between large exposures of solar radiation and cooling, a function exerted by rainfall. It is proposed in this study comparisons between results of tests of resistance to heat and thermal shock in façades of buildings, in which it is described in the performance standard - NBR 15575-4 (ABNT, 2013). Most of the results were positive in some test specimens, that is, in the tests of the specimens in question, it was possible to attend to the standard, however a revision of the test method established in the standard is proposed, so that the normative details can meet with more precise the elements tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Building policies must be rooted in a good understanding of the targeted population. • Building performance standards may benefit from creating databases of weather files. • A thermal performance analysis should consider multiple key performance indicators. • Building performance policies should address the thermal resilience of buildings. This paper presents the main challenges faced and lessons learned when developing a new method to assess the thermal performance of residential buildings for the recently updated Brazilian building performance standard, NBR 15575–1:2021. It touches on subjects related to the representation of occupant behavior, climate, and thermal acceptability in building performance simulation, as well as the use of reference models, key performance indicators, and performance levels in policies. NBR 15575 provides a thorough procedure to analyze thermal performance, allowing buildings to be assessed while in passive operation mode and also accounting for energy needs when active operation is necessary. Multiple key performance indicators are introduced to provide a comprehensive evaluation. The main difficulty found was dealing with diversity. Given the vast scale of Brazil's territory, a high variation in culture, climate and construction techniques is expected, thus requiring a compromise between detail and scalability. There are still many opportunities for improvement, especially regarding the representation of occupants, and adjustments of the characteristics of reference models to promote high thermal performance, considering the diverse climates, regional practices, and economic needs. This paper might help researchers and other stakeholders to develop and improve other local standards and protocols, especially for warm climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2007 was settled the first minimum energy performance standards for air conditioners in Brazil. After more than 14 years since the first regulations and looking upon future perspectives, this paper presents a review of regulatory developments in the country and an assessment based on scenario simulation to verify potential impacts of new minimum energy performance standards for air conditioners. The methodology employed is a bottom-up approach designed to estimate the energy consumption of air conditioners. A spreadsheet-based computational tool was developed to perform sensitivity analysis of key parameters such as ownership rate, average temperature and cooling degree days. The results show a significant energy savings potential that could be captured through a minimum energy performance standards revision. For the scenarios simulated these savings potential would reach up to 417 TWh, with respective greenhouse gases emissions reduction that would be 249 million tons, over the period from 2023 to 2040. An economic analysis of minimum energy performance standards impact is also provided and indicate that even in conditions that involve higher costs and discount rates, new more restrictive minimum energy performance standards allow capturing significant benefits for the society as a whole and for consumers individually. Reviewing the minimum energy performance standards is a critical and urgent issue for Brazil and the methodology presented in this paper can be useful in the process of decision-making related to new regulatory developments. • More restrictive MEPS for air conditioners is urgently needed in Brazil. • The synergy between the CGIEE, Procel and PBE/INMETRO should be improved. • The methodology presented in the paper can support the process of MEPS revisions. • Energy, economic and environmental benefits of more stringent MEPS can be very significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]