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A comparative study was organised in the scope of a recently finished master’s dissertation between three European country’s legal frames: France, Spain and Portugal paying special attention to the Portuguese case. The results of the three studies were compared in order to identify the potential of each regulation in terms of the building’s energetic efficiency whose conception is based on solar passive parameter application. Some of the improvements that were applied are not clearly shown in the results, namely inertia increase (using other solutions and calculus methodology) and different solar orientation. Because of this, a tool for energetic efficiency evaluation of housing buildings is presented that takes into consideration it’s constructive solutions and local climatic characteristics. The results taken were evaluated according to passive solar parameters, for example, thermal inertia and storage specific capacity in relation to the constructive elements. The insignificant impact on results caused by the improvements mentioned implies the need of implementing an evaluation methodology for building’s passive solar performance capable to qualify them in line with the existing regulatory application that leads to the existence of minimum values granting acceptable comfort conditions and energy consumption. This proposed methodology, according to a qualitative analysis of several parameters classified according to pre-established qualitative levels, becomes, in fact, an available tool for the buyer’s choice and an argument to the seller or investor. This paper describes briefly the main aspects of the thermal regulation referred above and, then, it presents and discusses the proposed methodology for the qualitative evaluation of passive solar performance of buildings.

In this paper it was analysed the evolution of the Portuguese Thermal Code in of face of sustainable parameters. The two versions were applied to the same housing building in two different positions in a way to improve the solar gains and be able to compare the results. The results gotten from the former steps were analysed, as well as the main differences noted between the two versions of the Codes. The calculus method pursued in the second version is similar to the first one, due to the technicians applying familiarity, but inserting new parameters and more demanding values. Considering that the new construction exigencies, highly concerned with sustainable constructive principles and environment-responsive attitudes, a set of the main factors to take under consideration in face of the more recognized sustainable construction methodologies is presented. The final stages of the paper focus the assessment of the collected results of the two versions of the Code, relating them with the sustainable construction criteria. These parameters allow outlining an overview about the Code evolution and its contribution to the improvement of the housing sector, in terms of the sustainable development.