Built Cultural Heritage and Energy Efficiency. The Sicily Case: Pros and Cons of an Innovative Experience

A Buda,R Sannasardo,V Pracchi

doi:10.1088/1755-1315/296/1/012001

Abstract

The paper aims to present a study carried out within the Regional Operational Program - European Regional Development Fund 2014/2020 financing project for the efficiency improvement of 106 public heritage, owned by the Sicily Region. 38 case studies of this stock have been selected, having different uses (museum, library, office, etc.), typology and construction period, shifting from XI to XX century buildings. The sample heterogeneity gives in fact a large-scale overview on the Mediterranean heritage, allowing to assess the efficacy of energy policies (at Regional level) and to suggest feasible retrofit solutions for historic public buildings. Weak and strength points of each case are highlighted as from both an energy audit (based on bills and simulated energy performance data) and an on-field survey in a comparison. The inclusion of stakeholders’ interviews in the walk-through investigation has clarified the efficacy of building and plants management. Finally, as tangible results, it is suggested to consider retrofit low-impact interventions accordingly to the building microclimate, as well as objects and users’ needs, as a win-win strategy.

Highlights

In the last decade European and national policies have set ambitious goals to reduce energy needs and emissions (EPBD 2010/31/EC et seq.), boosting the reduction of CO2 emissions, the rise of the share of renewable sources and the retrofitting of existing buildings
While energy legislation tends to solve the conflict between conservation and performance requirements with the possibility of excluding historic buildings under specific conditions, scientific and public sector are trying to define how preservation and energy efficiency could find virtuous synthesis for an efficient use through improvement actions
The concept of ‘improvement’, introduced firstly in the field of structural safety and accessibility, is spreading to energy efficiency, though in the complex legal framework that is still distinguishing between listed and non-listed buildings [3]. As proof of this trend we find the European standard EN 16883:2017 [4] and, at national level, the “Guide line for the improvement of energy efficiency in Cultural heritage”, issued by the Italian CH Ministry [5], in cooperation with the Italian Association Air Conditioning, Heating and Cooling (AiCARR), along with a growing scientific literature on the subject

Summary

Introduction

In the last decade European and national policies have set ambitious goals to reduce energy needs and emissions (EPBD 2010/31/EC et seq.), boosting the reduction of CO2 emissions, the rise of the share of renewable sources and the retrofitting of existing buildings. The concept of ‘improvement’, introduced firstly in the field of structural safety and accessibility, is spreading to energy efficiency, though in the complex legal framework that is still distinguishing between listed and non-listed buildings [3]. As proof of this trend we find the European standard EN 16883:2017 [4] and, at national level, the “Guide line for the improvement of energy efficiency in Cultural heritage”, issued by the Italian CH Ministry [5], in cooperation with the Italian Association Air Conditioning, Heating and Cooling (AiCARR), along with a growing scientific literature on the subject.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion