Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Refurbishment Scenario to Shift Nearly
Net ZEBs Toward Net ZEB Target:
An Italian Case Study
Marina Mistretta, Matteo Arcoleo, Maurizio Cellura,
Davide Nardi Cesarini, Francesco Guarino and Sonia Longo
Abstract The idea of a Net ZEB arises from the development of design criteria
and construction methods, addressed to curb the operating energy, increasing the
energy efficiency of building equipment and appliances, and of the thermal insu-
lation of envelope components, and enhancing the on-site energy generation, by
means of renewable energy sources, to cover the annual building energy loads. In
this chapter, the energy and environmental performances of an Italian nearly Net
ZEB following a life cycle approach are carried out. Then, a scenario of refur-
bishment is foreseen in order to shift the studied building from the nearly Net ZEB
condition toward the Net ZEB target, and the arising energy and environmental
benefits are assessed. The life cycle approach in the energy and environmental
assessment of the foreseen retrofit options is necessary to avoid shifting envi-
ronmental burdens from one step of the life cycle to another. Further, in order to
get a deeper description of the energy performance of the retrofit actions and to
compare the different alternatives, the energy payback time (EPT) and the emis-
sion payback time (EPT) are assessed for the proposed solutions.
1 Introduction
In Europe, many policy tools have been adopted to increase the energy efficiency
of the existing building stock, as part of the plan aimed to reach a low-carbon
economy. In such a path, the most important legislative tool in the European Union
