Cold Houses in Portugal: The Olarias Case Study

In any country, the habitation construction is made in order to protect the inhabitants from the climate conditions outside. If the climate is very harsh, the protection level must be very high. If milder, not so high. This is common sense.

It matters also, that the constructions methods, starting from drawings, project design and calculations, evolved during time, and when in the past there were no regulations at all, nowadays all new buildings and renewals must fulfill minimal requirements for thermal insulation and energy efficiency.

In Portugal this regulation started with The RCCTE (Regulation of the Thermal Behavior Characteristics of Buildings), established in Portugal by Decree-Law No. 80/2006, is the legislation that defines the requirements for thermal insulation and energy efficiency for new buildings and major renovations, aiming at user comfort and reduced energy consumption.

The Main Objectives and Scope are to improve Construction Quality, by promoting more energy-efficient and comfortable buildings and to Reduce Energy Consumption and Decrease dependence on fossil fuels.

Although the RCCTE (Regulation on the Energy Performance of Buildings) was the main regulation, it has been progressively integrated and complemented by more recent legislation governing the Energy Certification System for Buildings (SCE), such as Decree-Law No. 101-D/2020 and subsequent orders, which modernised the certification requirements and processes.

Because Portugal, with a moderate climate, and near the coast, doesn’t have very high temperature amplitude, the regulation requirements are not as hard when compared with countries with harsher climate. The average Portugal climate is neither to cold, neither too hot, when compared with other countries, but still have peaks of heat during middle summer, and peaks of cold during middle winter.

It is during these peaks that inhabitants feel some discomfort inside their homes. Because the buildings don’t have the level of insulation and heating systems of northern Europe for example. No need “most of the time”

However, any new building or renewed one, with minimal requirements for thermal insulation and energy efficiency, do have insulation all-around, double-glazing windows, and air con system, and that is considered enough for comfort.

First of all, it must be checked if the minimum requirements of the regulation are fulfilled. If not, that is mandatory in order to overcome a chronicle and critical problem.

The solution, depending from case to case, can be simple, or very complex, by adding or replacing layers of insulation around, improving or reducing sun exposure, adding or replacing heating and cooling systems, etc.

If the minimum requirements of the regulation are fulfilled, the problem will be minimal, and the cloth to wear inside, a heater or a fan (depending of the season), can solve the issue with ease.

When any development is complete, the energetic certificate provided by an independent company proves it fulfills the regulation.

Under this topic, I must also remember the good procedure of ventilating the habitation from time to time, by opening windows, in order to preserve air quality, and keeping humidity level low. Sometimes people do forget to do this during winter, but gladly Portugal weather provides several opportunities of shiny days, even during winter.