Reducing social barriers for the implementation of DHW technologies by involving the community in the design process

Abstract

The scope of this thesis project is framed within the project 'Semilla Sustentable', which aims at performing sustainable interventions in a school shelter in the indigenous community of Tentzoncuahuigtic, located in the North Sierra, state of Puebla, Mexico. The aim of the thesis project was to evaluate the social barriers present within the community that would hinder the adoption and acceptation of the new DHW technology, and to bring engineering solutions for the issue of providing domestic hot water in the shelter. The inhabitants of the shelter participated from the first phase of the design process. Firstly, their concerns and ideas about the use and conservation of water were collected and analyzed. Secondly, several activities were carried out in order to lower the encountered barriers to a level where they would not prevent the development of the project. Thirdly, a solution was presented to the community, and through. Throughout the project, regular visits were scheduled to the community, and actions were taken to guarantee the satisfactory adoption of the new technology.