IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v15y2022i3p697-d727796.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Transforming a Historic Public Office Building in the Centre of Rome into nZEB: Limits and Potentials

Author

Listed:
  • Fabrizio Cumo

    (CITERA Interdepartmental Centre, Sapienza University of Rome, 00197 Rome, Italy)

  • Fabio Nardecchia

    (Department of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering (DIAEE), Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy)

  • Sofia Agostinelli

    (Department of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering (DIAEE), Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy)

  • Flavio Rosa

    (CITERA Interdepartmental Centre, Sapienza University of Rome, 00197 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

According to the last census of 2019, about two million Italian buildings are more than 100 years old. Building energy retrofitting involves a diverse mix of influencing factors, depending on history, intended use, and construction techniques. This paper aims to assess the energy needs of a historic building by evaluating the variability of climatic conditions and internal loads, as well as the thermal capacity of the building envelope. The energy analysis was conducted using dynamic simulation systems (TRNSYS). The purpose of the study is to provide an analysis of the current energy conditions of the building to identify the main critical issues and suggest the most suitable interventions to be implemented. All the transformations were conducted to meet the nZEB requirements and evaluate technical and economic feasibility, compatibility with architectural and landscape constraints, and large-scale replicability. Specifically, to reach the proposed targets, a 36 kWp PV system was implemented for an area of 210 m 2 , in addition to the Air Handling Unit (AHU) already present. The profit index is above the unit, and it yields a time range between three and four years. Therefore, fully respecting the energy performance parameters required by the Italian legislation, the study demonstrated the unattainability of the nZEB class for a listed building.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabrizio Cumo & Fabio Nardecchia & Sofia Agostinelli & Flavio Rosa, 2022. "Transforming a Historic Public Office Building in the Centre of Rome into nZEB: Limits and Potentials," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-26, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:3:p:697-:d:727796
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/3/697/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/3/697/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Webb, Amanda L., 2017. "Energy retrofits in historic and traditional buildings: A review of problems and methods," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 748-759.
    2. Mavromatidis, Lazaros Elias & Bykalyuk, Anna & Lequay, Hervé, 2013. "Development of polynomial regression models for composite dynamic envelopes’ thermal performance forecasting," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 379-391.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Volkova, Anna & Krupenski, Igor & Kovtunova, Natalja & Hlebnikov, Aleksandr & Mašatin, Vladislav & Ledvanov, Aleksandr, 2023. "Converting Tallinn's historic centre's (Old Town) heating system to a district heating system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cho, Hyun Mi & Yang, Sungwoong & Wi, Seunghwan & Chang, Seong Jin & Kim, Sumin, 2020. "Hygrothermal and energy retrofit planning of masonry façade historic building used as museum and office: A cultural properties case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    2. Lazaros Mavromatidis, 2022. "Constructal Evaluation of Polynomial Meta-Models for Dynamic Thermal Absorptivity Forecasting for Mixed-Mode nZEB Heritage Building Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-26, December.
    3. Alessia Buda & Ernst Jan de Place Hansen & Alexander Rieser & Emanuela Giancola & Valeria Natalina Pracchi & Sara Mauri & Valentina Marincioni & Virginia Gori & Kalliopi Fouseki & Cristina S. Polo Lóp, 2021. "Conservation-Compatible Retrofit Solutions in Historic Buildings: An Integrated Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-19, March.
    4. Valentina Marincioni & Virginia Gori & Ernst Jan de Place Hansen & Daniel Herrera-Avellanosa & Sara Mauri & Emanuela Giancola & Aitziber Egusquiza & Alessia Buda & Eleonora Leonardi & Alexander Rieser, 2021. "How Can Scientific Literature Support Decision-Making in the Renovation of Historic Buildings? An Evidence-Based Approach for Improving the Performance of Walls," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, February.
    5. Lü, Xiaoshu & Lu, Tao & Kibert, Charles J. & Viljanen, Martti, 2015. "Modeling and forecasting energy consumption for heterogeneous buildings using a physical–statistical approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 261-275.
    6. Kadri Keskküla & Tambet Aru & Mihkel Kiviste & Martti-Jaan Miljan, 2020. "Hygrothermal Analysis of Masonry Wall with Reed Boards as Interior Insulation System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-10, October.
    7. Václav Kočí & Jan Kočí & Jiří Maděra & Jaroslav Žák & Robert Černý, 2020. "Computational Prediction of Susceptibility to Biofilms Growth: Two-Dimensional Analysis of Critical Construction Details," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-17, January.
    8. Anna Życzyńska & Zbigniew Suchorab & Jan Kočí & Robert Černý, 2020. "Energy Effects of Retrofitting the Educational Facilities Located in South-Eastern Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-16, May.
    9. Ravi Kumar Kottala & Bharat Kumar Chigilipalli & Srinivasnaik Mukuloth & Ragavanantham Shanmugam & Venkata Charan Kantumuchu & Sirisha Bhadrakali Ainapurapu & Muralimohan Cheepu, 2023. "Thermal Degradation Studies and Machine Learning Modelling of Nano-Enhanced Sugar Alcohol-Based Phase Change Materials for Medium Temperature Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-24, February.
    10. Cristina S. Polo López & Elena Lucchi & Eleonora Leonardi & Antonello Durante & Anne Schmidt & Roger Curtis, 2021. "Risk-Benefit Assessment Scheme for Renewable Solar Solutions in Traditional and Historic Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-35, May.
    11. 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.
    12. Egusquiza, A. & Ginestet, S. & Espada, J.C. & Flores-Abascal, I. & Garcia-Gafaro, C. & Giraldo-Soto, C. & Claude, S. & Escadeillas, G., 2021. "Co-creation of local eco-rehabilitation strategies for energy improvement of historic urban areas," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    13. Aurora Greta Ruggeri & Laura Gabrielli & Massimiliano Scarpa, 2020. "Energy Retrofit in European Building Portfolios: A Review of Five Key Aspects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-38, September.
    14. Belén Onecha & Alicia Dotor & Carlos Marmolejo-Duarte, 2021. "Beyond Cultural and Historic Values, Sustainability as a New Kind of Value for Historic Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-18, July.
    15. Laura Balaguer & Fernando Vegas López-Manzanares & Camilla Mileto & Lidia García-Soriano, 2019. "Assessment of the Thermal Behaviour of Rammed Earth Walls in the Summer Period," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-12, April.
    16. Mirco Andreotti & Dario Bottino-Leone & Marta Calzolari & Pietromaria Davoli & Luisa Dias Pereira & Elena Lucchi & Alexandra Troi, 2020. "Applied Research of the Hygrothermal Behaviour of an Internally Insulated Historic Wall without Vapour Barrier: In Situ Measurements and Dynamic Simulations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-22, July.
    17. Blázquez, Teresa & Ferrari, Simone & Suárez, Rafael & Sendra, Juan José, 2019. "Adaptive approach-based assessment of a heritage residential complex in southern Spain for improving comfort and energy efficiency through passive strategies: A study based on a monitored flat," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 504-520.
    18. Mariangela De Vita & Giulia Massari & Pierluigi De Berardinis, 2020. "Retrofit Methodology Based on Energy Simulation Modeling Applied for the Enhancement of a Historical Building in L’Aquila," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-26, June.
    19. Lingjun Hao & Daniel Herrera-Avellanosa & Claudio Del Pero & Alexandra Troi, 2020. "What Are the Implications of Climate Change for Retrofitted Historic Buildings? A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-17, September.
    20. Salata, Ferdinando & Ciancio, Virgilio & Dell'Olmo, Jacopo & Golasi, Iacopo & Palusci, Olga & Coppi, Massimo, 2020. "Effects of local conditions on the multi-variable and multi-objective energy optimization of residential buildings using genetic algorithms," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:3:p:697-:d:727796. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.