Spreading of energy residential behavior; review of houses in south-central Chile

Abstract

The need to reduce residential energy consumption necessitates full knowledge of housing conditions. This investigation analyzed dwellings in the south-central region of Chile. Spatial dispersion in energy behaviors was discovered, which contrasts with the homogeneity of public policy housing decisions. A comprehensive review is presented of forty houses in the Greater Concepcion Metropolitan Area, in comparison with national and regional statistics. An examination of building conditions and features, occupation data, photographic records and interviews, revealed formal and familial variety, which differ from stereotypes and general records. Findings demonstrate housing progression and diversity in energy needs. In this way, a research strategy was used that expresses residential evolution and can be applied in other areas, and provides a new vision of domestic behavior to confront the current environmental crisis.