Improving energy sustainability for public buildings in Italian mountain communities

Guglielmina Mutani,Mauro Cornaglia,Massimo Berto

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00628

Guglielmina Mutani, Mauro Cornaglia + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00628

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Journal: Heliyon	Publication Date: May 1, 2018
Citations: 6	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Polytechnic University of Turin, Environment Park

Abstract

The objective of this work is to analyze and then optimize thermal energy consumptions of public buildings located within the mountain community of Lanzo, Ceronda and Casternone Valleys. Some measures have been proposed to reduce energy consumption and consequently the economic cost for energy production, as well as the harmful GHG emissions in the atmosphere.Initially, a study of the mountain territory has been carried out, because of its vast extension and climatic differences. Defined the communities and the buildings under investigation, energy dependant data were collected for the analysis of energy consumption monitoring: consumption data of three heating seasons, geometric buildings characteristics, type of opaque and transparent envelope, heating systems information with boiler performance and climatic data.Afterward, five buildings with critical energy performances were selected; for each of these buildings, different retrofit interventions have been hypothesized to reduce the energy consumption, with thermal insulation of vertical or horizontal structures, new windows or boiler substitution. The cost-optimal technique was used to choose the interventions that offered higher energy performance at lower costs; then a retrofit scenario has been planned with a specific financial investment.Finally, results showed possible future developments and scenarios related to buildings energy efficiency with regard to the topic of biomass exploitation and its local availability in this area. In this context, the biomass energy resource could to create a virtuous environmental, economic and social process, favouring also local development.

Highlights

During the last half of the century, worldwide matters as climatic change, global warming and limited resource depletion became more current and urgent
The energy sector is still responsible for about 60% of global greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, and it is indisputable that the sustainability of the environment is indissolubly influenced by the energy sector [2]
In the second case, the average absolute consumption and the specific consumption normalized on 3197 Heating Degree Days at C (HDD) at 20 C of Lanzo Torinese were represented to evaluate the energy efficiency level as independent by different climatic conditions

Summary

Introduction

During the last half of the century, worldwide matters as climatic change, global warming and limited resource depletion became more current and urgent. These issues are strictly related to the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) coming from anthropic activities. In order to reduce the negative effect of climate change, global warming and limited resource depletion over economic, social and natural systems, a rapid decrease in GHG emissions is needed, together with policies and strategies for a more sustainable and resilient society. Aelenei et al [10] and Mutani et al [11] evaluated the nZEB for European countries considering the application of the European Directives, for a reduction of energy consumption in the building sector considering any political or economic obstacles that could reduce the strategic impact

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