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In Spain, the COVID-19 confinement was carried out in the spring of 2020. All non-essential activities were temporarily suspended. This brought with it the adaptation to home office (telework), still emerging in Europe, and more in Spain. Although the response in general has been positive, the conditions to which families have been subjected to telework cannot be considered normal. In this context, an online survey was requested to find out the experience of confined households in relation to the dwelling adaptation and satisfaction following the new needs in lockdown. The data obtained on workspace perception and its adequacy were studied in Madrid, stratified by gender and average income, for a sample of 256 households with people teleworking or studying. The results showed that the adequacy of telework spaces were insufficient for a third of the households, without no significant relationship with most of socioeconomic variables, nor with home characteristics. The variables related to this inadequacy of the spaces were: the number of people who work or study at home; the lack of exclusive spaces for teleworking; and the availability of digital resources. This perception also depended on the qualities of the teleworking space, as size, furniture and lighting, among others.
Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches; Miguel Ángel Navas-Martín; Sebastià March; Ignacio Oteiza. Adequacy of telework spaces in homes during the lockdown in Madrid, according to socioeconomic factors and home features. Sustainable Cities and Society 2021, 75, 103262 .
AMA StyleTeresa Cuerdo-Vilches, Miguel Ángel Navas-Martín, Sebastià March, Ignacio Oteiza. Adequacy of telework spaces in homes during the lockdown in Madrid, according to socioeconomic factors and home features. Sustainable Cities and Society. 2021; 75 ():103262.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTeresa Cuerdo-Vilches; Miguel Ángel Navas-Martín; Sebastià March; Ignacio Oteiza. 2021. "Adequacy of telework spaces in homes during the lockdown in Madrid, according to socioeconomic factors and home features." Sustainable Cities and Society 75, no. : 103262.
This article analyses the situation that prevailed in 12 dwellings located on the outskirts of Madrid during Spain’s state of emergency. How did 24/7 occupation affect the quality of indoor air and power consumption patterns? The mixed method used (surveys and instrumental monitoring) pragmatically detected the variation in consumption, comfort and indoor air quality patterns before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The characteristics initially in place and household predisposition had a conclusive effect on such variations. The starting conditions, including household composition, habits and the way daily activities were performed, differed widely, logically affecting power consumption: 8/12 case studies increase occupancy density by more than 25 percent; 11/12 improve thermal comfort; 10/12 improve air quality but not necessarily translate in a sufficient ventilation practices; air quality was lower in the bedrooms on the whole; only 4/12 case studies use the potential of passive measures; only one household adopted energy savings strategies; 10/12 case studies increase electric power consumption but none of the dwellings was fitted with a renewable power generation system. The conclusion drawn is that, despite starting conditions differing widely, household composition, habits (including performance of daily activities performance) and power consumption also played an active role in the end result. This approach allowed to integrate qualitative and quantitative findings on indoor environmental quality (IEQ), energy use and households’ behavior. The objective data on the energy situation of the case studies not only is useful for the study, but also for potential enrollment in energy rehabilitation programs, such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Fernando de Frutos; Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches; Carmen Alonso; Fernando Martín-Consuegra; Borja Frutos; Ignacio Oteiza; Miguel Navas-Martín. Indoor Environmental Quality and Consumption Patterns before and during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Twelve Social Dwellings in Madrid, Spain. Sustainability 2021, 13, 7700 .
AMA StyleFernando de Frutos, Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches, Carmen Alonso, Fernando Martín-Consuegra, Borja Frutos, Ignacio Oteiza, Miguel Navas-Martín. Indoor Environmental Quality and Consumption Patterns before and during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Twelve Social Dwellings in Madrid, Spain. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (14):7700.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFernando de Frutos; Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches; Carmen Alonso; Fernando Martín-Consuegra; Borja Frutos; Ignacio Oteiza; Miguel Navas-Martín. 2021. "Indoor Environmental Quality and Consumption Patterns before and during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Twelve Social Dwellings in Madrid, Spain." Sustainability 13, no. 14: 7700.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the precautionary measures applied globally (lockdowns and curfews) have impacted homes, including work. Working from home (WFH) has emerged as a growing trend in the post-pandemic era. The research question was: Are our homes ready for teleworking? To respond, a national prospective mixed approach was launched for Spanish households during the spring 2020 lockdown, using two online questionnaires, one quantitative and the other qualitative. Through a survey, photographs, and narratives, the study evaluates the perceived adequacy of telework spaces and their specific characteristics, the availability of digital resources and the internet. A total of 1800 surveys and over 200 images and texts related to telework environments were obtained. The results suggest that the adequacy of these spaces was insufficient for more than a quarter of the homes. Also, strong relations between the perceived workspace adequacy and a social status or stability of homes were shown and validated, despite other sociodemographic features, the home composition or habitat were not related. Some other variables statistically significant were occupation regime, type and surface of dwellings; their indoor environmental quality; the availability of exclusive spaces for teleworking; quality of digital resources; and the specific space features. The analysis was completed with qualitative insights through photos and texts. Telework, lived in this context as an experiment, needs this reflection from an environmental, resource-availability, and ergonomic point of view.
Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches; Miguel Navas-Martín; Ignacio Oteiza. Working from Home: Is Our Housing Ready? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 7329 .
AMA StyleTeresa Cuerdo-Vilches, Miguel Navas-Martín, Ignacio Oteiza. Working from Home: Is Our Housing Ready? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (14):7329.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTeresa Cuerdo-Vilches; Miguel Navas-Martín; Ignacio Oteiza. 2021. "Working from Home: Is Our Housing Ready?" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 14: 7329.
The pandemic generated by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to a forced increase in the number of hours spent at home. In many cases, the lockdown situations, both in social and work terms, have meant that homes have suddenly also become workplaces. Based on all the indicators, this new relational scenario in the labor market displays a clear upward trend and is far from being a temporary situation. It is known that sunlight affects people’s circadian rhythm and that its reduction and even absence during this period of isolation has had a psychological impact on the population. This makes it necessary to reconsider the regulations applied in homes, in order to guarantee their habitability, given their recent widespread use as offices, as well as domestic spaces. In historic centers, the comprehensive renovations being carried out include improvements in energy efficiency and thermal comfort, which play a fundamental role. However, the energy consumption linked to artificial lighting and the quality of this lighting itself have remained in the background, as improvement strategies consist mainly in the replacement of incandescent or fluorescent lamps with LED lamps. Prior to the pandemic, the electric consumption of lighting systems accounted for 10–15% of the total, a figure which increased to 40–50% during the lockdown period. Aiming to improve people’s well-being while reducing energy expenditure on lighting, this article presents a quantitative approach to improving the levels of natural lighting in residential heritage buildings located in historic centers. According to data obtained from previous surveys of a sector of the population, homes built prior to 1950 were characterized by good natural lighting conditions and a very low incidence of health issues among occupants compared to contemporary homes. The objective was to quantify the circadian stimulus and lighting levels and to identify the areas or work areas in homes in order to optimize consumption related to lighting and to generate healthy and comfortable spaces. Results show that historic homes have enough naturally lit areas to perform office work during business hours. However, in the most unfavorable seasons, winter and autumn, it is necessary to use artificial lighting at the start and end of the working day.
Carmen Muñoz-González; Jonathan Ruiz-Jaramillo; Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches; Maria Joyanes-Díaz; Laura Montiel Vega; Victor Cano-Martos; Miguel Navas-Martín. Natural Lighting in Historic Houses during Times of Pandemic. The Case of Housing in the Mediterranean Climate. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 7264 .
AMA StyleCarmen Muñoz-González, Jonathan Ruiz-Jaramillo, Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches, Maria Joyanes-Díaz, Laura Montiel Vega, Victor Cano-Martos, Miguel Navas-Martín. Natural Lighting in Historic Houses during Times of Pandemic. The Case of Housing in the Mediterranean Climate. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (14):7264.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarmen Muñoz-González; Jonathan Ruiz-Jaramillo; Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches; Maria Joyanes-Díaz; Laura Montiel Vega; Victor Cano-Martos; Miguel Navas-Martín. 2021. "Natural Lighting in Historic Houses during Times of Pandemic. The Case of Housing in the Mediterranean Climate." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 14: 7264.
Following the 2020 confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, housing has become the only safe place and this has exposed inequity in habitability. This research on the reality of confined households and the perception of their homes in the Mexican republic is based on a mixed participatory study, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. The online questionnaire consisted of 58 questions in the quantitative approximation. The qualitative part required the provision of an image of the workspace, with testimonies and personal reflections. During the lockdown, all participants saw an increase in overall energy consumption; more than half reported not being in thermal comfort; and a third declared deficiencies in noise insulation. Regarding the perception of the telework/tele-study space, we found the following categories: bedrooms, living/dining rooms, studies and others. In addition, respondents had often adapted the workspace for both individual and shared use. In general, the households were satisfied with the size of their houses but would like landscaped spaces or better views outside. Confinement made housing the protective element against the pandemic. The consequences will have an effect globally, so new architectural design paradigms need to be rethought.
Maribel Jaimes Torres; Mónica Aguilera Portillo; Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches; Ignacio Oteiza; Miguel Navas-Martín. Habitability, Resilience, and Satisfaction in Mexican Homes to COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 6993 .
AMA StyleMaribel Jaimes Torres, Mónica Aguilera Portillo, Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches, Ignacio Oteiza, Miguel Navas-Martín. Habitability, Resilience, and Satisfaction in Mexican Homes to COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (13):6993.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaribel Jaimes Torres; Mónica Aguilera Portillo; Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches; Ignacio Oteiza; Miguel Navas-Martín. 2021. "Habitability, Resilience, and Satisfaction in Mexican Homes to COVID-19 Pandemic." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 13: 6993.
During spring 2020, the world was shocked at the imminent global spread of SARS-CoV-2, resorting to measures such as domestic confinement. This meant the reconfiguration of life in an unusual space; the home. However, not all households experienced it in the same way; many of them were vulnerable. A general increase in energy consumption and discomfort in many cases, led these families to suffer the ravages of confinement. This study analyzes the energy and comfort situation for the Madrid (Spain) population, according to the configuration of the homes, the characteristics of the dwellings, the vulnerability index by district, and energy poverty (measured with the 10% threshold of energy expenditure of home incomes). The results show a greater exposure, in confinement, of vulnerable and energy-poor households to scenarios of discomfort in the home, to which they could not respond, while energy consumption inevitably increased. Driven by need, energy-poor homes applied certain saving strategies, mainly resorting to thermal adaptation with clothing. This study shows the risk these households experienced in the face of an extreme situation, and invites reflection on preventive and containment measures that aim to avoid harming the disadvantaged in the future; harm that would also entail serious consequences on the health of their cohabitants.
Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches; Miguel Navas-Martín; Ignacio Oteiza. Behavior Patterns, Energy Consumption and Comfort during COVID-19 Lockdown Related to Home Features, Socioeconomic Factors and Energy Poverty in Madrid. Sustainability 2021, 13, 5949 .
AMA StyleTeresa Cuerdo-Vilches, Miguel Navas-Martín, Ignacio Oteiza. Behavior Patterns, Energy Consumption and Comfort during COVID-19 Lockdown Related to Home Features, Socioeconomic Factors and Energy Poverty in Madrid. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (11):5949.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTeresa Cuerdo-Vilches; Miguel Navas-Martín; Ignacio Oteiza. 2021. "Behavior Patterns, Energy Consumption and Comfort during COVID-19 Lockdown Related to Home Features, Socioeconomic Factors and Energy Poverty in Madrid." Sustainability 13, no. 11: 5949.
Confinement was adopted globally as a containment measure to face the COVID pandemic declared by WHO on March 2020. In Spain, the State of Alarm was established for three months. This implied the interruption of educational activities, having a higher incidence for children, since teaching would not be resumed until the following academic year, in September. This, together with the confusing initial information about COVID-19 transmission between children and their families, has made them one of the groups most vulnerable. In this study, a qualitative approach is made to secondary school students (aged 12). They were asked to share their experiences about confinement from the perspective of the home spaces, in relation to two main tasks relevant in this period: the tele-study and their relaxing time and well-being. Using images and narratives with an abstract and emotional description, the response of 46 children was obtained. A sentiment analysis was carried out from their testimonies. Results suggest a greater availability of tele-study spaces with daylighting, mainly in bedrooms, with laptops. For leisure and rest spaces, sofas, beds, and cohabitant gathering were preferred. Written testimonials were mainly positive. Housing features and family cohesion condition their resilience in situations of uncertainty, like confinement.
Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches; Miguel Navas-Martín. Confined Students: A Visual-Emotional Analysis of Study and Rest Spaces in the Homes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 5506 .
AMA StyleTeresa Cuerdo-Vilches, Miguel Navas-Martín. Confined Students: A Visual-Emotional Analysis of Study and Rest Spaces in the Homes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (11):5506.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTeresa Cuerdo-Vilches; Miguel Navas-Martín. 2021. "Confined Students: A Visual-Emotional Analysis of Study and Rest Spaces in the Homes." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 11: 5506.
The confinement by COVID-19 has meant a re-reading of housing for Spanish households, resulting in the only available and safe space to carry out daily activity. This complex phenomenon has generated a completely different way of inhabiting it, as well as of relating to domestic spaces. For this reason, the home perception and its characteristics must be evaluated, highlighting those perceived as deficiencies, or as preferences in such an unusual context as lockdown, where the experience was different depending on the dwelling characteristics, and the family in question. To deepen in this double perception home-dwelling, a mixed method was used, with two online forms. The first is a quantitative questionnaire, while the second asks the participants for photographs and narratives about such images. More than 1800 surveys and 785 qualitative responses were obtained. From both approaches, the joint discourse arose, allowing an exploratory analysis of the current situation of the Spanish residential park, and the resilience demonstrated in this period by both households and their usual dwellings. This study should facilitate the development of new proposals on housing in contexts similar to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches; Miguel Navas-Martín; Ignacio Oteiza. A Mixed Approach on Resilience of Spanish Dwellings and Households during COVID-19 Lockdown. Sustainability 2020, 12, 10198 .
AMA StyleTeresa Cuerdo-Vilches, Miguel Navas-Martín, Ignacio Oteiza. A Mixed Approach on Resilience of Spanish Dwellings and Households during COVID-19 Lockdown. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (23):10198.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTeresa Cuerdo-Vilches; Miguel Navas-Martín; Ignacio Oteiza. 2020. "A Mixed Approach on Resilience of Spanish Dwellings and Households during COVID-19 Lockdown." Sustainability 12, no. 23: 10198.
Climate change is raising the length and intensity of the warm season in the academic year, with a very significant impact on indoor classroom conditions. Increasingly frequent episodes of extreme heat are having an adverse effect on school activities, whose duration may have to be shortened or pace slackened. Fitting facilities with air conditioning does not always solve the problem and may even contribute to discomfort or worsen health conditions, often as a result of insufficient ventilation. Users have traditionally adopted measures to adapt to these situations, particularly in warm climates where mechanical refrigeration is absent or unavailable. Implementation of such measures or of natural ventilation is not always possible or their efficacy is limited in school environments, however. Such constraints, especially in a context where reasonable energy use and operating costs are a primary concern, inform the need to identify the factors that contribute to users’ perceptions of comfort. This study deploys a post-occupancy strategy combined with participatory action to empower occupants as agents actively engaging in their own comfort. It addresses user-identified classroom comfort parameters potentially applicable in the design and layout of thermally suitable spaces meriting occupant acceptance.
Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo; Jesica Fernández-Agüera; Maella Minaksi González; Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches. Overheating in Schools: Factors Determining Children´s Perceptions of Overall Comfort Indoors. Sustainability 2020, 12, 5772 .
AMA StyleSamuel Domínguez-Amarillo, Jesica Fernández-Agüera, Maella Minaksi González, Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches. Overheating in Schools: Factors Determining Children´s Perceptions of Overall Comfort Indoors. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (14):5772.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSamuel Domínguez-Amarillo; Jesica Fernández-Agüera; Maella Minaksi González; Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches. 2020. "Overheating in Schools: Factors Determining Children´s Perceptions of Overall Comfort Indoors." Sustainability 12, no. 14: 5772.