The Present and Future of the Use Phase of Social Housing in Tucumán, Argentina: An LCA Perspective

Abstract

This research focuses on assessing the environmental impact of heating and cooling systemsin public housing projects, built between 2000 and 2020, in Tucuman, Argentina. It considerscurrent and projected climate change scenarios. The study compares existing conditions with improvementssuggested by IRAM 11603 for a thermo-energetic transition. Anticipating future energyconsumption changes is vital for proposing sustainable retrofitting options to enhance affordabilityand energy efficiency, while ensuring occupants’ thermal comfort. A public housing prototype inTucumán serves as the case study. The methodology combines energy simulation and Life CycleAssessment (LCA) to analyze current and future energy demands. The results show climatechange’s potential impact on housing thermal behavior and the necessity for improvements. In thebase case, cooling demand exceeds 11 kWh/m2.year, while heating demand decreases by approximately4 kWh/m2.year. Rehabilitation could reduce cooling demand by 57% and heating demandby 32.5%, considering future climate scenarios. Active architectural strategies are proposed for enhancingthermal performance and reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.This study underscores the importance of analyzing future scenarios and implementing strategiesfor the thermo-energetic transition of existing social housing.