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Energy and Economic Savings Assessment of Energy Refurbishment Actions in Italian Residential Buildings: Comparison between Asset and Tailored Calculation

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  • Domenico Palladino

    (DUEE Department, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Via Anguillarese 301, Santa Maria di Galeria, 00123 Rome, Italy)

  • Silvia Di Turi

    (DUEE Department, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Via Anguillarese 301, Santa Maria di Galeria, 00123 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Residential buildings have become one of the leading sectors in the energy refurbishment process towards the clean energy transition. Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), based on the asset rating calculation method, are often used to quantify the energy performance in standard conditions before and after renovation, but their energy outcomes can significantly differ from the actual energy consumption and savings. More consistent results can be obtained by adopting a “tailored” approach, capable of considering more the actual building operation conditions and users’ behaviour. In this framework, the study evaluates the heating energy needs of Italian representative multi-family houses in all the climatic zones and five retrofitting scenarios with both asset and tailored ratings. Finally, a cost–benefit analysis, based on energy savings and interventions costs, is also carried out to assess the affordability of the refurbishment actions depending on the adopted calculation methods. The analysis of retrofitting scenarios highlighted that asset energy outcomes are generally slightly greater than the tailored ones (differences of around 3–13% on average), but the affordability of the chosen energy efficiency measures is significantly overrated. It could underline the need to adopt the tailored approach for more accurate energy savings assessment and economic evaluation.

Suggested Citation

  • Domenico Palladino & Silvia Di Turi, 2023. "Energy and Economic Savings Assessment of Energy Refurbishment Actions in Italian Residential Buildings: Comparison between Asset and Tailored Calculation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-22, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3647-:d:1070622
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Menezes, Anna Carolina & Cripps, Andrew & Bouchlaghem, Dino & Buswell, Richard, 2012. "Predicted vs. actual energy performance of non-domestic buildings: Using post-occupancy evaluation data to reduce the performance gap," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 355-364.
    2. Flavio Scrucca & Domenico Palladino, 2023. "Integration of Energy Simulations and Life Cycle Assessment in Building Refurbishment: An Affordability Comparison of Thermal Insulation Materials through a New Sustainability Index," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-22, January.
    3. Pasichnyi, Oleksii & Wallin, Jörgen & Levihn, Fabian & Shahrokni, Hossein & Kordas, Olga, 2019. "Energy performance certificates — New opportunities for data-enabled urban energy policy instruments?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 486-499.
    4. Li, Y. & Kubicki, S. & Guerriero, A. & Rezgui, Y., 2019. "Review of building energy performance certification schemes towards future improvement," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1-1.
    5. Domenico Palladino & Silvia Di Turi & Iole Nardi, 2021. "Energy and Environmental Effects of Human Habits in Residential Buildings Due to COVID-19 Outbreak Scenarios in a Dwelling near Rome," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-24, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Raniero Sannino, 2023. "Thermal Loads Map and Overall Energy Analysis Depending on Low-Effort Parameters Change: A Commercial Building Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-18, April.

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