Living on the Slope: learning from Encosta do Bom-Jesus, Braga, Portugal

Due to rapid urbanization and lack of available land, hillside settlements are growing along the greenery slopes of the Minho region in the north of Portugal. This paper presents a field study conducted in the hillside area of Encosta do Bom-Jesus, Lamaçães located in the city of Braga, Portugal. In this recent urban context and in today’s awareness towards energy consumption and energy saving issues it was found imperative to learn a series of important aspects related to these households. These aspects relate personal and behaviour factors to energy use, but also include user’s perception and satisfaction with their houses, their location, design, total energy consumption and costs and user’s awareness towards the existence and application of solar technologies. The assessment was made through a questionnaire randomly applied to 100 households throughout the area of the Encosta do Bom-Jesus, Lamaçães. Results have shown a general household satisfaction with house location, thermal performance and energy consumption. Although aware of the advantages of the use of solar technologies in the total energy saving and in helping to safeguard the environment, only a few households have them implemented. Results have also shown the need for a more conscious, careful and wise use of energy as well as a correct control, by the users, of the house internal environment.