Climate change, thermal comfort, and low-income residences: Insights from post-occupancy evaluations of concrete wall buildings in Brazil

• Systematic review maps thermal comfort outcomes in Brazilian concrete wall housing. • Thermal discomfort reported across diverse climatic zones. • Only 13% of evaluated dwellings met acceptable comfort criteria. • Evidence gap: no studies in regions representing 76% of national territory. • First multi-climate study comparing thermal response and comfort in concrete-wall housing. The concrete wall construction system (CW) has gained prominence in Brazil, particularly in low-income residence projects, due to its high productivity. However, its thermal performance has been subject to scrutiny in a country with significant climatic diversity and increasing exposure to extreme weather. This systematic review analyzed Post-Occupancy Evaluations (POEs) focused on the thermal comfort of CW housing in Brazil. It revealed a scarcity of publications (only 19), most concentrated in the Southeast and South regions. No studies were identified in bioclimatic zones 1R, 3A, 4A, 5B, 6A, and 6B, which represent 76% of the territory. Only 3 case studies out of 23 (13%) in cold and mixed climates reported positive results above 80% satisfaction. Most POEs indicated negative comfort outcomes in extreme climates, with reports of discomfort during summer and winter. The lack of technical data and standardized methodologies compromise comparability. These findings reveal environmental, social, and health implications associated with the widespread adoption of CW systems, particularly for vulnerable populations. We conclude by highlighting the urgent need for research in underrepresented regions and for methodological standardization to support more reliable evaluations of thermal comfort and climate-related vulnerability as part of future impact assessment and housing policy analysis.