Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Specifically, this consumptions are related to transport, 40 %; residential, 23 %
and tertiary, 37 %.
The analysis of energy certificates for buildings, which certifies the energy
performance of the buildings in the region, up to 2012 shows that 86.9 % are
G-class buildings, while only 0.5 % are in class A.
The majority of the building stock of Sicily is, in fact, composed of post-war
buildings built during the economic boom (1950-1970 approximately) and gen-
erally consists of buildings with reinforced concrete frame construction and wall
plug in blocks of tuff stone or perforeted bricks, walls without insulation, single-
glazed windows and no technical measure to limit solar gains, thereby resulting in
buildings with very low energy performance.
The energy consumption often connected to the heat dispersion from the walls
and to the absence of heating and cooling systems, in most cases, is increased due
to the use of electrical heating and cooling systems that are largely less efficient as
compared to the high efficiency systems currently available on the market.
As far as renewable energy sources systems in residential buildings in Sicily are
concerned, even if Sicily shows a favourable level of solar radiation (average
yearly solar radiation on the horizontal plan 1.724 kWh/mq), the solar thermal
systems for the production of sanitary hot water for residential use are installed
only in 0.3 % of the total users in the Region. More frequently in Sicily electrical
energy and gas are used for heating and small PV systems aren't much employed
for the production of electrical energy.
The Sicilian Region has various projects that aim at sustainable and smart
planning in different areas (Riva Sanseverino et al.
2014
), including the Factor 20
Project.
The project, which involves the collaboration of three Italian regions
(Lombardia, Basilicata and Sicily) is realized with the contribution of the
European program LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance, a financial
instrument set up by the European Commission for the development, implemen-
tation and updating of the environmental policy of the European Union.
Factor 20 is aimed at defining a set of operational tools to support the planning
of regional and national policies for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the
reduction of energy consumption and dissemination of renewable energy sources.
The project aims at promoting an integrated approach to the planning and
monitoring of the results for the achievement of sustainable energy objectives set
by the European Union by 2020, with reference to the well-known ''20-20-20
climate package'', and in particular to the recent
2012
/27/UE Directive on Energy
Efficiency outlining the goals for energy requalification in buildings.
The proposed approach involves different territorial decision levels in order to
achieve common goals.
The Factor 20 Project aims at the identification of local actions that can
effectively struggle against climate change (Factor 20 Project
2013
).
