The paper presents the thermal analysis of a low-cost prototype consisting of plywood panels, which was designed and built by one of the authors within the scope of a program for subsidized low-cost housing. The object of analysis is a building prototype located in Canoinhas, in the South of Brazil (26 degrees 10 ' 38 '' S, altitude 765 m above sea level). The present paper is concerned with evaluating the thermal performance of the prototype over given periods of the year by means of onsite measurements and indoor temperature predictions for the various rooms of the building prototype. From obtained results, the overall performance of the building as well as the individual performance of each room was evaluated. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.