Energy Performance and Operational Costs of Reusable Modular Emergency Housing Across Chilean Climate Zones

Abstract

Emergency housing plays a critical role in post-disaster response and recovery processes. However, many currently used emergency housing solutions present limitations in terms of thermal comfort, energy efficiency, and operational costs. This study evaluates the energy performance and operational costs of a reusable modular emergency housing model developed for the Chilean context, comparing it with three emergency housing solutions available in the national market with similar floor areas of approximately 34 m2. The analysis considered the thermal properties of the building envelope, the annual heating and cooling energy demand, and the associated operational costs across nine Chilean climate zones using the Chilean Housing Energy Rating Tool (CEV). Results show that the reusable modular model reduces heating energy demand by more than 65 % in the coldest climate zones. A climatic transition zone between zones C and D was also identified, beyond which the higher insulation level becomes the dominant factor in the annual energy balance. From an economic perspective, the proposed model reduces annual climatization costs from approximately CLP 6.47 million in the least efficient solutions to CLP 2.25 million in the coldest climate zone. These findings highlight the potential of incorporating energy-efficiency criteria into emergency housing design even under the construction and budget constraints typical of post-disaster contexts, and suggest that reusable modular housing represents a promising strategy for improving the sustainability of post-disaster reconstruction.