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Design and Performance Analysis of a Lightweight Flexible nZEB

Author

Listed:
  • Graziano Salvalai

    (Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Marta Maria Sesana

    (RE3_Lab, Politecnico di Milano Polo Territoriale di Lecco, 23900 Lecco, Italy)

  • Diletta Brutti

    (Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Marco Imperadori

    (Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

Starting from an experimental activity, the paper describes research analysis that has been conducted on a real case construction with the aim to design its adaptation as a nearly zero energy building in three possible alternative scenarios: (i) a lab for students’ activities in the Lecco University Campus of Politecnico di Milano; (ii) an Alpine shelter for the implementation of a sustainable mountain tourism in Zermatt; (iii) an emergency shelter for poor communities in Burkina Faso. The use of an easily disassembled and lightweight steel structure coupled with dry-layered technologies allows a tailor-made envelope design, ensuring high thermal comfort, very low energy use, and limited construction times. The three case studies have been designed starting from the same architectural/structural concept. A detailed analysis, by means of finite element method and dynamic building thermal simulations, has been performed to predict the overall performances of each case study. The results show: (i) high replicability of the concept; (ii) high customization of the envelope technologies; (iii) high energy efficiency; and (iv) high thermal comfort of the architecture. The useful energy requirement in all the three analyzed scenarios is minimized and equal to 14.13, 23.88, and 41.83 kWh/m 2 year, respectively, for the students’ lab, the Alpine shelter and the emergency shelter. According to this study the energy needs can be covered by renewable energy produced on site, making the architectural concept an interesting modular lightweight solution for a nearly zero energy building with high potential for replicability.

Suggested Citation

  • Graziano Salvalai & Marta Maria Sesana & Diletta Brutti & Marco Imperadori, 2020. "Design and Performance Analysis of a Lightweight Flexible nZEB," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-27, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:15:p:5986-:d:389513
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. H.-Ping Tserng & Cheng-Mo Chou & Yun-Tsui Chang, 2021. "The Key Strategies to Implement Circular Economy in Building Projects—A Case Study of Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Albina Scioti & Mariella De Fino & Silvia Martiradonna & Fabio Fatiguso, 2022. "Construction Solutions and Materials to Optimize the Energy Performances of EPS-RC Precast Bearing Walls," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Susana P. B. Sousa & Helena C. Teixeira & Giorgia Autretto & Valeria Villamil Cárdenas & Stefano Fantucci & Fabio Favoino & Pamela Voigt & Mario Stelzmann & Robert Böhm & Gabriel Beltrán & Nicolás Esc, 2025. "Eco-Friendly Sandwich Panels for Energy-Efficient Façades," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-25, July.

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