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A Decision Making Tool for a Comprehensive Evaluation of Building Retrofitting Actions at the Regional Scale

Author

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  • Rossano Albatici

    (Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy)

  • Alessia Gadotti

    (Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy)

  • Christian Baldessari

    (Baldessari Ingegneri Srl, Strada del Dòs Grum 18, 38123 Trento, Italy)

  • Michela Chiogna

    (Istituto Trentino per l’Edilizia Abitativa SpA, Via Guardini 22, 38121 Trento, Italy)

Abstract

Buildings in Europe account for 40% of total primary energy consumption and 36% of CO 2 emissions. Nearly one-half of the building stock was built before modern energy efficiency standards and need urgent renovation. Urban retrofitting has emerged as a crucial factor for bringing about a radical change, the new construction rate being lower than 1%. Nevertheless, an accepted and consolidated methodology for refurbishing the existing housing stock is still lacking. The study presents an operating methodology for the optimization of the retrofitting process, based on energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness, as well as users’ comfort, in the building asset of ITEA SpA, the social housing institute for the Province of Trento (Italy), which manages more than 600 buildings. The research consists of the following stages: (1) definition of building classes, similar in age, dimension, typology, construction system and location; (2) analysis of plant systems and recognition of cases significant for classifying buildings in term of energy class; (3) identification of possible improvements and related cost-benefits; and (4) extension of the results to the whole building class. A tool is here proposed, intended for use by ITEA in order to set medium- and long-term plans. The tool does not consider only the effective sustainability of the controlling body intervention but also the final users’ full satisfaction.

Suggested Citation

  • Rossano Albatici & Alessia Gadotti & Christian Baldessari & Michela Chiogna, 2016. "A Decision Making Tool for a Comprehensive Evaluation of Building Retrofitting Actions at the Regional Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:10:p:990-:d:79693
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ariel Dinar & Robert Mendelsohn (ed.), 2011. "Handbook on Climate Change and Agriculture," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 13942.
    2. Majcen, D. & Itard, L.C.M. & Visscher, H., 2013. "Theoretical vs. actual energy consumption of labelled dwellings in the Netherlands: Discrepancies and policy implications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 125-136.
    3. Albatici, Rossano & Tonelli, Arnaldo M. & Chiogna, Michela, 2015. "A comprehensive experimental approach for the validation of quantitative infrared thermography in the evaluation of building thermal transmittance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 218-228.
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    Cited by:

    1. Juan Aranda & Ignacio Zabalza & Andrea Conserva & Gema Millán, 2017. "Analysis of Energy Efficiency Measures and Retrofitting Solutions for Social Housing Buildings in Spain as a Way to Mitigate Energy Poverty," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-22, October.
    2. Mikael Mangold & Magnus Österbring & Conny Overland & Tim Johansson & Holger Wallbaum, 2018. "Building Ownership, Renovation Investments, and Energy Performance—A Study of Multi-Family Dwellings in Gothenburg," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-16, May.
    3. Zhou, Jinzhi & Zhu, Zishang & Zhao, Xudong & Yuan, Yanping & Fan, Yi & Myers, Steve, 2020. "Theoretical and experimental study of a novel solar indirect-expansion heat pump system employing mini channel PV/T and thermal panels," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 674-686.
    4. Henrik Engelbrecht Foldager & Rasmus Camillus Jeppesen & Muhyiddine Jradi, 2019. "DanRETRO: A Decision-Making Tool for Energy Retrofit Design and Assessment of Danish Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-19, July.
    5. Joanne Louise Patterson, 2016. "Evaluation of a Regional Retrofit Programme to Upgrade Existing Housing Stock to Reduce Carbon Emissions, Fuel Poverty and Support the Local Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-21, December.
    6. Mohammed Seddiki & Amar Bennadji & Richard Laing & David Gray & Jamal M. Alabid, 2021. "Review of Existing Energy Retrofit Decision Tools for Homeowners," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-23, September.

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