A Sustainable and Zero Energy Healthcare Facility in Mozambique

Abstract

Sustainable urban development, especially in economically disadvantaged regions, has increasingly become a major strategic priority. New settlements and urban regeneration programs have to improve the quality of social life, promote economic growth, increase environmental protection practices, and ensure the appropriate use of local resources. In that framework, a well-structured healthcare service is commonly conceived as vital for urban development. In response, this paper proposes the construction of one such healthcare facility in a deprived urban area in Maputo, Mozambique. Prioritising typical pillars of sustainability, the project’s design considers traditional building typology and shape, involves local building techniques and materials, accommodates dominant climatic and cultural factors, and seeks to take advantage of renewable energy. An integrated approach has been used to characterise the structure’s thermophysical characteristics, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning plants layout, and the design of renewable energy systems, all to ensure its compliance with health structures standards and the specific structure’s energy autonomy. A detailed analysis of indoor comfort conditions has also been made by adopting two approaches: a modified Fanger Predicted Mean Vote with an expectancy factor and adaptive comfort models. In sum, all of the proposed structure’s services will be guaranteed by 100% renewable energy.