Bioclimatic Assessment and Thermal-Lighting Comfort in Vernacular Dwellings in the Jejenal District

Abstract

This work addressed the issue of vernacular housing in the Jejenal area in the parish of San Isidro, with the aim of determining the climatic adversities such as high temperatures and relative humidity, which condition the capacity for thermal and light comfort of the population. A mixed-approach investigation was carried out that combines in situ measurements and computer simulations. The current conditions of these homes and their performance in relation to the environment were assessed, as well as the strengths and weaknesses that local construction strategies have been generating. The research work aims to make local architectural traditions efficient in order to improve the quality of life of the population that inhabits them through sustainable solutions. Although the homes in the Jejenal area formally represent a cultural heritage, there are important deficiencies, including the utility of the homes, as well as the overheating of the air inside them or an inefficient distribution of the windows. The results obtained demonstrate that, although native materials such as guadua cane or wood have great potential to offer sustainable solutions, their application entails correcting major deficiencies in construction techniques. Strategies such as the correct orientation of homes, the generation of shadows, as well as the use of passive ventilation are identified as key solutions for improving living conditions. This work proposes both construction guidelines, especially those that integrate traditional and bioclimatic knowledge, a model of sustainable rural housing that responds to the climatic and socioeconomic conditions of the region.