IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v13y2020i11p2817-d366278.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Sustainable Solution for Energy Efficiency in Italian Climatic Contexts

Author

Listed:
  • Valeria Annibaldi

    (Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics, University of L’Aquila, Via G. Gronchi n. 18, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Federica Cucchiella

    (Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics, University of L’Aquila, Via G. Gronchi n. 18, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Marianna Rotilio

    (Department of Civil, Construction-Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of L’Aquila, Via G. Gronchi n. 18, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

Abstract

In the European Union, about 40% of energy consumption and 36% of CO 2 emissions come from buildings; therefore, the improvement of their energy performance is a strongly focused issue. In particular, the energy efficiency of the building envelope is a very important element to pay attention to. Many studies have been conducted on this field of research, and the study illustrated in this paper also belongs to this topic. In particular, this article presents a multidisciplinary method to find sustainable solutions for energy efficiency in Italian climatic contexts using the Life Cycle Cost Analysis approach. In detail, this paper defines the reference scenario and then deepens the methodology used to determine the economically optimal thickness of a specific insulating material—hemp fiber—applied to a specific type of wall—uninsulated cavity walls made of hollow bricks, which are very widespread in Italy. The analysis is developed in relation to three different regions—Piedmont, Abruzzo, and Campania. The results show that the economically optimal thickness is different for each region analyzed and demonstrates how energy efficiency strategies must be carefully weighed according to the specific conditions of the site.

Suggested Citation

  • Valeria Annibaldi & Federica Cucchiella & Marianna Rotilio, 2020. "A Sustainable Solution for Energy Efficiency in Italian Climatic Contexts," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:11:p:2817-:d:366278
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/11/2817/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/11/2817/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Robert Dylewski, 2019. "Optimal Thermal Insulation Thicknesses of External Walls Based on Economic and Ecological Heating Cost," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Daouas, Naouel, 2011. "A study on optimum insulation thickness in walls and energy savings in Tunisian buildings based on analytical calculation of cooling and heating transmission loads," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(1), pages 156-164, January.
    3. Ascione, Fabrizio & Bianco, Nicola & Maria Mauro, Gerardo & Napolitano, Davide Ferdinando, 2019. "Building envelope design: Multi-objective optimization to minimize energy consumption, global cost and thermal discomfort. Application to different Italian climatic zones," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 359-374.
    4. Torres-Rivas, Alba & Palumbo, Mariana & Haddad, Assed & Cabeza, Luisa F. & Jiménez, Laureano & Boer, Dieter, 2018. "Multi-objective optimisation of bio-based thermal insulation materials in building envelopes considering condensation risk," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 602-614.
    5. Fabrizio Ascione & Nicola Bianco & Rosa Francesca De Masi & Margherita Mastellone & Giuseppe Peter Vanoli, 2019. "Phase Change Materials for Reducing Cooling Energy Demand and Improving Indoor Comfort: A Step-by-Step Retrofit of a Mediterranean Educational Building," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-32, September.
    6. Yu, Jinghua & Yang, Changzhi & Tian, Liwei & Liao, Dan, 2009. "A study on optimum insulation thicknesses of external walls in hot summer and cold winter zone of China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(11), pages 2520-2529, November.
    7. D'Amico, A. & Ciulla, G. & Panno, D. & Ferrari, S., 2019. "Building energy demand assessment through heating degree days: The importance of a climatic dataset," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 1285-1306.
    8. Mahlia, T.M.I. & Iqbal, A., 2010. "Cost benefits analysis and emission reductions of optimum thickness and air gaps for selected insulation materials for building walls in Maldives," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 2242-2250.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Axaopoulos, Ioannis & Axaopoulos, Petros & Gelegenis, John, 2014. "Optimum insulation thickness for external walls on different orientations considering the speed and direction of the wind," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 167-175.
    2. Omer Kaynakli, 2011. "Parametric Investigation of Optimum Thermal Insulation Thickness for External Walls," Energies, MDPI, vol. 4(6), pages 1-15, June.
    3. Kaynakli, Omer, 2014. "Economic thermal insulation thickness for pipes and ducts: A review study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 184-194.
    4. Li, Danny H.W. & Yang, Liu & Lam, Joseph C., 2013. "Zero energy buildings and sustainable development implications – A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1-10.
    5. Al-Sanea, Sami A. & Zedan, M.F., 2011. "Improving thermal performance of building walls by optimizing insulation layer distribution and thickness for same thermal mass," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(9), pages 3113-3124.
    6. Ahmet Bircan Atmaca & Gülay Zorer Gedik & Andreas Wagner, 2021. "Determination of Optimum Envelope of Religious Buildings in Terms of Thermal Comfort and Energy Consumption: Mosque Cases," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-17, October.
    7. Aditya, L. & Mahlia, T.M.I. & Rismanchi, B. & Ng, H.M. & Hasan, M.H. & Metselaar, H.S.C. & Muraza, Oki & Aditiya, H.B., 2017. "A review on insulation materials for energy conservation in buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 1352-1365.
    8. Audenaert, A. & De Boeck, L. & Geudens, K. & Buyle, M., 2012. "Cost and E-level analysis of different dwelling types and different heating systems with or without heat exchanger," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 604-610.
    9. Pan, Dongmei & Chan, Mingyin & Deng, Shiming & Lin, Zhongping, 2012. "The effects of external wall insulation thickness on annual cooling and heating energy uses under different climates," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 313-318.
    10. Daouas, Naouel, 2016. "Impact of external longwave radiation on optimum insulation thickness in Tunisian building roofs based on a dynamic analytical model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 136-148.
    11. Küçüktopcu, Erdem & Cemek, Bilal, 2018. "A study on environmental impact of insulation thickness of poultry building walls," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 583-590.
    12. Larrea-Sáez, Lorena & Muñoz, Enrique & Cuevas, Cristian & Casas-Ledón, Yannay, 2024. "Optimizing insulation and heating systems for social housing in Chile: Insights for sustainable energy policies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    13. Yvan Dutil & Daniel Rousse, 2012. "Energy Costs of Energy Savings in Buildings: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(8), pages 1-22, August.
    14. Liting Yuan & Zhiyi Wang & Yanyan Huang & Xiaolong Wang, 2020. "Comparative Analysis on Load Characteristic of Intermittently Conditioned Buildings for Different Wall Insulation Forms," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-15, September.
    15. Kumar, Dileep & Alam, Morshed & Zou, Patrick X.W. & Sanjayan, Jay G. & Memon, Rizwan Ahmed, 2020. "Comparative analysis of building insulation material properties and performance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    16. Ozel, Meral, 2011. "Effect of wall orientation on the optimum insulation thickness by using a dynamic method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(7), pages 2429-2435, July.
    17. Axaopoulos, Ioannis & Axaopoulos, Petros & Panayiotou, Gregoris & Kalogirou, Soteris & Gelegenis, John, 2015. "Optimal economic thickness of various insulation materials for different orientations of external walls considering the wind characteristics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(P1), pages 939-952.
    18. Yang, Liu & Yan, Haiyan & Lam, Joseph C., 2014. "Thermal comfort and building energy consumption implications – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 164-173.
    19. Ozel, Meral, 2012. "The influence of exterior surface solar absorptivity on thermal characteristics and optimum insulation thickness," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 347-355.
    20. Yurou Tong & Hui Yang & Li Bao & Baoxia Guo & Yanzhuo Shi & Congcong Wang, 2022. "Analysis of Thermal Insulation Thickness for a Container House in the Yanqing Zone of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-17, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:11:p:2817-:d:366278. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.