intervention strategies for renovation of social housing estates

Approaches to renovation interventions in the Netherlands, proposals for Rome chapter 4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The first and the second floor in the North end of the building are empty. Because of
unknown reasons, the bearing structure has been left standing alone without being
completed with walls. Clearly, since in this sector the building surface is not as compact as
the rest of the block, this is a problem for total energy consumption. Moreover, this
concentrates empty rooms, increasing social problems.
The aim of the study was to investigate renovation proposals for an existing housing block
and their contribution for improvement of energy consumption. The main question was:
1. How to improve current energy consumptions intervening on the building envelope?
The study was organized into fours steps.
1. Calculation of present energy consumptions;
2. Definition of three ex-ante proposal for renovation;
3. Calculation of energy consumptions of each proposal.
4. Conclusions
The three proposals were defined as follows:
Soft-proposal: ‘non invasive’ solutions to conform to energy regulation by means of
thermal insulation from the inside;
High-level proposal: ‘invasive’ solutions by means of substitutions of existing façade to
improve energy performances and change building exteriors;
RE-project-proposal: ‘radical’ solutions to improve energy performances, change building
exteriors and add functional quality adding facilities on the ground floor.
Software was used to calculate energy consumptions of the current condition and each
proposal for renovation (Lesosai). Afterwards, results were compared according to the
energy certification CasaClima. Because of the current lack of regulation regarding energy
certification in Italy, it has been assumed that CasaClima would be compulsory in the next
future 5 . This certification in fact, is the only currently applied in Italy for new construction, in
5 The Energy Building Performance Directive (EPBD 2002/91 CE) was adopted in Europe to set up a common
framework to promote energy efficiency of buildings. By 2006, all the European members implemented the directive
into a national law; they are currently dealing with its implementation. Implementation of EPBD will be obligatory for all
member states by 2009. The Directive focuses on existing stock as well as new constructions. Its implementation
requires several measures to achieve a prudent and rational use of energy sources, and to reduce the environmental
impact of energy use in buildings. The Directive includes four main components: calculation methodology, minimum
energy performance requirements, energy performance certificate and inspections of boilers and air-conditioning. A
total of 30 European standards (EU) and 24 international standards (EN ISO) have been revised in order to facilitate the
European members in implementing the EPBD and are presented in the so-called “Umbrella Document”. The standards,
for example, do not prescribe a single definition of energy rating or expression of energy performances rather provides
a limited number of options. In the calculation methodology, it is considered not only the quality of the building
insulation, but all the factors determining energy efficiency that are: space heating and cooling, domestic hot water,
lighting and ventilation.
The EPBD was implemented in Italy with the national directive 192/2005 and 311/20065. By July 2009, energy
certification will be obligatory for all dwellings to be put on the market, whereas since January 2007, the energy
certification is necessary to get incentives and tax concessions. A provisional certificate will be issued by qualified
professionals till the definition of energy certification system at national and regional level (by December, 2008). As a
result of the directive, each Italian Region can autonomously implement the European Directive in terms of definition of
guide lines for energy certification provided that they satisfy the national and European directions. Operative proposals
have been already developed by some Regions like Lombardia and Friuli Venezia Giulia5. Nevertheless, the leader in
this sector is the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, in the North of the country. It developed its own method for energy
certification, CasaClima.
In The Netherlands the EPBD has been implemented by the EPA (Energy Building Advice for existing buildings), that will
be obligatory from January 2008. EPA (Energy Performance Advice) is a method enabling consultancy firms to assess
energy performance of existing building and to issue energy saving advices for improvement of energy efficiency by
Rational Use of Energy (RUE) based on cost-effectiveness. EPA is also connected to a subsidy scheme encouraging
implementation of energy saving measures that are allocated, for example, when measures are taken based on EPA
advice. The EPA advice itself was fully subsidised until 2004. After the subsidizing stopped, the number of EPA’s
25. D
METHODOLOGY