| Resumo: | Since the Industrial Revolution, construction has been considered by several authors one of the least sustainable activities, because it contributes negatively to climate changes, namely to global warming, especially by carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. In a time when Europe discusses and prepares its ambitious EUROPE 2020 program, pointing out new and demanding goals which impose a philosophy of energy consumption close to zero for future buildings, and with a view to improve energy efficiency to tackle climate change, this Dissertation approaches the subject of sustainability having, as a study basis, the German constructive concept Passivhaus and its integration in the architecture design. Thus, delimiting the area of study to Portugal, we see that most buildings do not have the appropriate level of sustainability concerns, nor do they satisfy the minimum requirements of habitability and comfort. This is underlined by studies that have been published since the turn of the millennium and which classify Portugal as the country with the highest seasonal mortality rate in the European Union. Since there are the means to significantly reduce dependence on climate and energy, it is up to the Architect, due to his great social, cultural and moral responsibility, to implement them in a way that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Once the concept and value of the Passivhaus methodology has been framed, a small study is carried out to provide concrete answers in the cities of Lisbon and Porto.
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