A new methodology to evaluate housing comfort: defining a differential diagnosis matrix

Abstract

This paper focuses on comfort optimization methods in contemporary housing in Lisbon, Portugal. Faced with the notorious lack of comfort in buildings from different construction periods, rehabilitation appears as an opportunity to change this reality, by improving the residents’ quality of life, allowing users to control their own variables. In present times, the technological developments have simplified the diffusion of information, allowing each person to easily comprehend more complex technical contents and increasing awareness for more effective and conscious interventions. The design of a differential diagnosis matrix aims to identify and categorize problems associated with the lack of housing comfort, by relating specific constraints through rules of correspondence and by establishing a logical relationship of flow charts of interdependent and specific variables for each case. A more effective and simplified method is proposed, that will work as a tool to make the process of improving the comfort in the houses more accessible, even for the non-specialist user. Through the increase of adequate and conscious micro interventions, it is possible to create sustainable and better practices in this sector.