Section outline

    • Introduction - Building Science: Health, Safety and Energy Efficiency

      In this section, we will learn the fundamental concepts of building science applied to housing in informal settlements.
      Buildings are systems that control heat, air, moisture, and energy use, and they directly affect the health, safety, and quality of life of the people who live in them.

      In this section, you will learn:
      • What the main health and safety risks in homes are (carbon monoxide, particulate matter, mold, and others)
      • How heat moves in and out of buildings
      • What the building envelope is
      • How air and moisture move through a home
      • What energy efficiency and energy poverty mean
       
      These concepts will prepare you for the model house experiment in the next section.
       
      Next step: Start with A. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
    • A. Carbon Monoxide (CO) Page
    • B. Particulate Matter (PM) Page
    • C. Safety Page
    • D. Thermal Transmittance and the Building Envelope Page
    • Activity - What Questions Can We Ask About This House? Assignment
      Opened: Monday, 30 March 2026, 12:00 AM
      INSERTAR FOTO Slide 21 de la presentación de Nicolás

      Look at the image above. Using the table below, write the questions you would ask about this house and its residents from each perspective.

      Building Science:
      Use concepts like heat transfer, air leakage, insulation..      		 Commitment Senses:
      What would you want to know from sensory data? (see, smell, touch, hear)      		 Experience Interview with resident:
      what would you ask about their experience living here?
               
               

      Submit your completed table in one of the following ways:
      • Type your answers directly in the text box below
      • Upload a document or photo with your completed table
    •  

      Interactive 360 – Yasmin’s House (Before and After Retrofit)

       
      In this activity, you will explore Yasmin’s house using a 360° interactive image.
       
      You will be able to navigate inside the house and observe the housing conditions.
       
      There are two versions of the house:
      • Pre: Before the housing improvements (before the retrofit work)
      • Post: After the housing improvements (after insulation, sealing, and improvements)
       
      As you explore the house, think about the following:
      • Building materials
      • Insulation
      • Air leaks
      • Heating system
      • Comfort conditions
      • Safety
      • Energy efficiency
      • Indoor air quality
       
      Try to identify the differences between the house before and after the improvements.
       
      Next step: Explore the 360 images and then continue to the next activity.
    • Interactive 360 - Yasmin’s House (Before Retrofit)

    • Interactive 360 - Yasmin’s House (After Retrofit)