UGREEN Case

Project "Campos": How climate shaped a sustainable home in Campos do Jordão.

In the mountains of Campos do Jordão, where the cold of winter meets the summer sun, a house was designed to interact with the climate in every detail. Project “Campos”, located in the GreenVille Condominium (SP), goes beyond aesthetics: it is a living laboratory of bioclimatic architecture, composed of a main residence and a caretaker’s house.

The project was shaped based on a bioclimatic analysis study, which guided every design decision with a single goal: maximizing thermal comfort and reducing energy consumption by making the most of natural resources!

Daylighting Performance: Between natural light and visual comfort

Natural lighting is life, but when poorly planned, it can turn into discomfort. That’s why the daylighting study evaluated three key aspects:

• sDA (Spatial Daylight Autonomy): how much natural light the space actually receives;

• ASE (Annual Sunlight Exposure): when direct sunlight goes beyond the limit and causes glare;

• DGP (Daylight Glare Probability): the likelihood that residents will experience visual discomfort from light.

Highlights of the main house:

• Suites and living room stood out: 100% sDA and low glare risk. Blinds? Practically unnecessary;

• Bedroom corridor: removing the vertical brise-soleils increased glare, yes — but it was a conscious trade-off to gain more solar heat in the winter. Curtains were added to balance visual comfort;

• Home theater and office: lost some natural light (down to 66.67% and 55.56% sDA), but still maintained adequate levels. And the best part: no glare risk;

• Kitchen: the biggest impact … sDA dropped from 81.82% to just 15% after the rood extension. The result? Greater dependence on artificial lighting;

• Gym: abundant light (100% sDA), but with a 31.67% risk of morning glare. Interestingly, this helps with passive heating, so it’s not entirely negative.

And what about the caretaker’s house?

The seconday building was a pleasant surprise: 100% sDA in all spaces, with a significant drop in glare risk — thanks to the house’s 7^o rotation and the new kitchen location. Simple adjustments, major results!

Thermal Performance: Less cost, more comfort

Thermal comfort in Campos do Jordão is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. The harsh winter demands smart solutions. And the project responded well:

Main house:

• Comfort: the suites reached 71% of comfort hours in winter; the social areas, 74%. Although slightly below the 80% recommended by ASHRAE 55, it’s solid performance for a mountain house.

• Energy efficiency: a major achievement. Floor heating consumption dropped by 37% — from 109,823.49 kWh to 69,169.74 kWh annually — thanks to the removal of the brises and the use of thermal insulation (EPS) in the roof.

Caretaker’s house:

Here, the story changed a bit. With no active climate control, the house relies exclusively on natural ventilation. Changes in the construction system (from LIghtWall to Steel Frame) and in the facade orientation compromised heat storage capacity.

The result? The suites and bedrooms fell below ideal comfort hours. But the living room and kitchen maintained good thermal levels, showing that even with limitations, balance is still achievable.

Key Takeaways!

• Bioclimatic planning is not a luxury, it’s a strategy;

• Small design decisions (like adjusting a building’s angle or modifying a roof) can generate real energy savings and improve resident’s thermal comfort;

• Sustainable construction requires close attention to the local climate. After all, the sun and wind don’t come with an instruction manual — but they do come with enormous potential.

The “Campos” case makes it clear: bioclimatic planning leads to real savings, thermal comfort, and healthier environments. Small desing changes can reduce energy costs by up to 30% and significantly improve resident’s quality of life.

Want to bring these results to your projects too?

Turn climate into an ally and sustainability into a competitive advantage!

News

Sun on Demand: Innovation or the Beginning of a Dystopia?

Would you pay to have sunlight after dark?

Imagine this: you’re at home, it’s already night, and suddenly … the sky lights up. Not from a streetlamp, but from a satellite in orbit reflecting sunlight directly onto your city.

Sounds like science fiction? Well, that’s exactly what a Silicon Valley startup is promising.

“Sun as a Service” has literally arrived

The American company Reflect Orbital wants to turn the sun itself into a business model. How? By launching thousands of satellites with giant foldable mirrors that orbit the Earth at altitudes where they still receive sunlight — even when it’s already night down here.

The idea is both simple and bold: reflect that light back to Earth, illuminating specific areas for up to 4 minutes each pass.

These satellites, with their origami-like foldable mirrors, create light circles about 5 km wide. And this light could be sold on demand — like a “Sun Delivery”

But what for?

Reflect Orbital calims its technology could be used to:

• Boost solar plant production at sunrise and sunset;

• Illuminate disaster zones or military operations;

• Extend work shifts in mines and construction sites;

• Create nighttime shows and events with artificial sunlight.

In other words, they’re selling light the way we sell internet: on demand, anytime, anywhere. Welcome to the world of Sunlight-as-a-Service.

But … what`s the real cost of this idea?

Spoiler: it’s not on the bill.

Excess artificial light is already a serious problem in cities — and now we’re talking about taking it to skies.

The consequences?

• Disorientation of nocturnal wildlife;

• Interference with telescopes and astronomical research;

• Increased risk of space collisions with so many objects in orbit;

• And worst of all: losing the night sky as a common heritage of humanity.

Little by little, our sky could stop being a free spectacle of stars and turn into a floating billboard, if we support ideas that challenge and disrespect Earth’s natural cycles.

And who decides where the light shines?

That’s the question keeping people awake (or at least, it should)

Right now, there is no clear global regulation on the commercial use of orbital light. Who gets to decide who stays in the dark?

Today it may be entertainment. Tomorrow, geopolitical control.

We’re opening the door for corporations to decide who sees the sun and who stays in the shadows.

Final Reflection: Is it worth it?

Reflect Orbital presents itself as a pioneer — but perhaps it’s the dawn of a luminous dystopia, where even Earth’s natural darkness can be privatized.

Are we really ready to sell the night in exchange for just a few extra minutes of sun?

The answer, as always, lies in the hands — and conscieces — of those who design the future.

UGREEN Ecosystem

Tired of “trying” to be sustainable without seeing results?

Sustainability is a valuable asset, but most companies and professionals still treat it like a riddle. They invest time and resources, but the lack of a clear plan causes efforts to scatter into isolated actions — without generating real impact or financial return,

If you’ve ever asked yourself “Where do I start”, “What really matters?” or “How can I turn this into an advantage for my carrer or business?”, you’re not alone. The good news is: there is a way.

The UGREEN Pass is more than consulting; it’s navigation map. Our approach doesn’t hand you ready-made solutions — it delivers a customized plan that identifies where you stand today and maps the best path forward. It was designed to eliminate uncertainty and give you:

• Cleat direction for the next step.

• Focus on the initiatives that bring the greatest return.

• Confidence to stand out and become a market reference.

Stop wasting time on trial and error. The positive impact market is growing, and having a strategic plan is the key to staying ahead of the competition.

Ready to start your journey? Book call with us. The goal is simple: to show you how UGREEN Pass can transform good intentions into concrete results!

UGREEN Team!