Addressing Large-Scale Energy Retrofit of a Building Stock via Representative Building Samples: Public and Private Perspectives

Fabrizio Ascione,Claudio Stasio,Giuseppe Vanoli,Nicola Bianco,Gerardo Mauro

doi:10.3390/su9060940

Fabrizio Ascione, Claudio Stasio + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su9060940

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Abstract

Scientific literature about energy retrofit focuses on single buildings, but the investigation of whole building stocks is particularly worthy because it can yield substantial energy, environmental and economic benefits. Hence, how to address large-scale energy retrofit of existing building stocks? The paper handles this issue by employing a methodology that provides a robust energy analysis of building categories. This is denoted as SLABE, “Simulation-based Large-scale uncertainty/sensitivity Analysis of Building Energy performance”. It was presented by the same authors and is here enhanced to investigate a whole and heterogeneous building stock that includes various categories. Each category is represented via a Representative Building Sample (RBS), which is defined through Latin hypercube sampling and uncertainty analysis. Hence, optimal retrofit packages are found in function of building location, intended use and construction type. Two families of optimal solutions are achieved. The first one collects the most energy-efficient (and thus sustainable) solutions, among the ones that produce global cost savings, thereby addressing the public perspective. The second one collects cost-optimal solutions thereby addressing the private perspective. EnergyPlus is employed as a simulation tool and coupled with MATLAB® for data analysis and processing. The methodology is applied to a significant share of the Italian public administration building stock, which includes several building categories depending on location, use destination and construction type. The outcomes show huge potential energy and economic savings, and could support a deep energy renovation of the Italian building stock.

Highlights

Importance of Large-Scale Energy Retrofit of the Existing Building StockSeveral European guidelines—such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) [1], its recast version [2] and the Directive in matter of overall energy efficiency in the European Union (EU) [3]—state that a necessary lever to press, for achieving targets of low-carbon future and sustainable development, concerns the building sector and, mainly, the existing building stock
Each category is represented via a Representative Building Sample (RBS), which is defined through Latin hypercube sampling and uncertainty analysis
Table 9 provides the first family of optimal retrofit solutions, which address the interests of the public perspective

Summary

Introduction

Importance of Large-Scale Energy Retrofit of the Existing Building StockSeveral European guidelines—such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) [1], its recast version [2] and the Directive in matter of overall energy efficiency in the European Union (EU) [3]—state that a necessary lever to press, for achieving targets of low-carbon future and sustainable development, concerns the building sector and, mainly, the existing building stock. Even if it could seem cynical, the private (i.e., the common person) pursues the economic profitability of an investment more than sustainability goals, and the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency measures is a further unavoidable issue Such complexity is quite clear at the EU decisional levels, so that, two years after the emanation of the EPBD recast (Directive 2010/31/EU), the Delegated Regulation (EU) No 244/2012 [5] was enacted by taking into strong consideration the profitability of each project concerning building energy design. In [5], the cost-optimal analysis is recommended for new constructions by means of the concept of reference buildings This approach may be profitable for designers involved in projects of building energy retrofit, so that, by means of proper simulations, they can have a right perspective of all consequences, in terms of initial expenditure and reduction of operating costs, deriving from the application of energy retrofit measures.

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