Superficial temperatures in a house envelope made of concrete hollow blocks

Quick and low-cost construction of dwellings for underprivileged people in Mexico, lead to housing developments without regional adaptation, because the design decisions depend in first term on costs. In extreme climates like the desert climate of Northwest Mexico, design strategies without climate criteria have a relevant impact on indoor climate and acclimatization costs. Design strategies include the selection of the appropriate materials for the envelope, which is the main topic in this article. Construction materials are selected in many cases according to the lowest price, and not taking into account the best thermal behaviour according to the local climate. As a construction material for walls, concrete hollow blocks are widely used because of their low price and short transportation from the local factories. In this work we analyse superficial temperatures in a dwelling made of concrete hollow blocks. It is an example of a large number of houses in low-cost developments. Envelope thermo graphic images are presented from different orientations and different solar radiation incidence. Particularly, temperature profiles from the most solar exposed wall are analysed and discussed.