When construction was linear. Analysis of the energy sustainability of social housing in spain (1939-1989)

Abstract

Building circularly means thinking and designing for the future, so that, in addition to sustainability in construction, use and possible reuse, at the end of the building’s useful life, all the elements can be usable. Since Pearce and Turner (1995) put forward their ideas on the circular economy, this approach has gained prominence in other disciplines, such as architecture. (McDonough y Braungart, 2005). However, until very recent times architecture has been “linear” if we understand this as the opposite of the aim of reduce-reuse-recycle: the initial purpose was disconnected from the final one. In the case of social housing, there are still no examples built according to the principles of circular architecture, nor are there any studies that verify whether it is possible to apply it to social housing built in previous decades. Thus, to have elements of analysis and comparison, we will approach the way of building in Spain in the 20th century focusing on the case of railway social housing, which had an abundant production (around 20,000 dwellings) in the period 1939-1989, within the framework of the existing housing legislation at that time in which there was no purpose of any of the principles encompassed within the concept of circular architecture, as the context and needs were different. However, these are dwellings that are still in use and the question of this study is whether, at least in terms of energy savings, it is possible to optimise the lifespan of these dwellings without compromising the current way of life and the associated comfort demands. The article is based on the analysis of the thermal envelope carried out based on the projects available, as well as the study and application of the regulations on thermal insulation in the period under study, which specifically did not exist until the 1979 basic standard on thermal conditions (NBE-CT-79). The aim is to simulate, after the study carried out and after the recent update of the basic document on energy saving, (CTE DB-HE 2019) what renovation actions are necessary in these dwellings to ensure compliance with the new and rigorous standards set with the aim of reconciling these dwellings, which are still in use and were built under criteria of minimum cost, with the lowest energy consumption and therefore with greater energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.