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The development of social housing In Mexico during the last decade has been supported by the different levels of government (federal, state, and municipal) in order to assist low-income families. The accelerated construction that takes place in order to address the housing deficit causes a reduction in the quality of design and construction, which is also affected by rising building costs. Environmental comfort conditions inside the dwellings are reduced drastically when houses are constructed without considering climate conditions, especially in hot arid regions. This situation generates uncomfortable thermal conditions for users and high-energy costs due to the unavoidable need of air conditioning.

User profiles, architectural program, comfort preferences and guidelines for design and construction of future dwellings in the city of Hermosillo, in northwest Mexico, were determined by surveying beneficiaries of government affordable housing programs. One survey measured the degree of satisfaction of inhabitants in a sample of over 370 households; a second survey sampled 200 households and was aimed at determining aspects of comfort.

This paper describes the results of thermal simulations carried out on two housing models. The first model represents the type usually constructed by commercial developers, and the second is a proposal developed by the research team according to guidelines based on the results of the research project described before.

This study is a preliminary step in the construction of a physical model for experimental research and demonstration.