Proposal for an Emergency Housing Project Under a ZIH Perspective in Guerrero, Mexico

Abstract

This article presents the results of a comparative study of emergency housing, in three locations in the state of Guerrero, Mexico, and proposes recommendations to build them under the concept of “low impact housing”. The objective of this research is to analyze the state of neutrality of the components of an emergency housing project in Mexico financed through public resources, from the viewpoint of the CO₂ emissions generated from its use, and also analyzing the level of thermal habitability for its occupants. The applied methodology is the ZIH concept (Zero Impact Housing) adapted to each stage of use, which considers variables such as Soil, Water and Energy. The issues were also addressed under a new sustainability approach associated with four pillars; governmental, social, economic and environmental. This research allowed to generate recommendations for the development of an emergency housing project in Mexico, integrating elements that increase habitability by up to 42% and decrease annual energy costs by up to $28,772.60 pesos. The present methodology is expected to serve as a reference for future analyses in other regions of the country or in Latin America. The current housing policy approach seeks to serve the most vulnerable population in Mexico, but lacks considerations on the sustainable use of resources, habitability and the impact on the environment; This research generates a proposal to include these aspects under a sustainability criterion, adding to the current efforts, under a sustainable development perspective.