Enhancing Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing: A Comparative Study of Construction Methods

This paper presents an applied research project in San Antonio, Texas, in the United States, focused on constructing energy-efficient homes for low-income families. The project involves designing and building two prototype homes: one using conventional wood-frame construction with enhanced energy-efficient features, and another utilizing rammed earth construction. Both prototypes, sharing similar design configurations, were modeled using DesignBuilder to assess and optimize energy performance. Multiple iterations were conducted to improve components such as roof, floor, and wall insulation, windows, and air infiltration.