Solar Housing Potential in the Climates of the Andean Region in Argentina

Abstract

In Argentina's Andean region, severe winters, inadequate housing, and expensive energy have contributed to degraded living conditions for a growing low-income population. State-funded "social housing" programs face a greater demand with dwindling resources. Quantity prevails over quality in building and the situation is rapidly worsening. The case of the Andean province of Mendoza is analyzed. A need ofalmosr 145.000 low-cost urban dwellings is predicted for the year 2000. Solar savings fractions between 65 to 85% are proven possible with the available technology. Massive implementation of passive solar in the needed housing stock could yield yearly savings of more than 2,000 million Kwh (7.000 million Btu) and improved life quality for almost 700,000 dwellers. Due to the country's economic crisis, this is only feasible in a mid-term bosis, requiring the application of new technical and economic strategies, some of which are proposed in this article.