Proposal for Prioritizing the Retrofitting of Residential Buildings in Energy Poverty Circumstances

The energy poverty derived from socio-economic imbalances affects mostly households with fewer economic resources, being social housing complexes one of the most vulnerable sectors. The insufficient access to energy and the incapability to maintain dwellings at an adequate temperature can have negative impact on people’s health due to the prolonged exposure to poor hygrothermal conditions. Therefore, the prioritization of building retrofitting actions must be carried out regarding the actual state of the housing and the family economy. This paper proposes the definition of a prioritization map that gave a general knowledge of the energy vulnerability situation of the existing building stock. To this end, the dwelling’s energy performance is analysed, focusing on the correlation among its characteristics and the energy vulnerability of its inhabitants. In this way, dwellings with high energy poverty potential are identified in order to develop different energy retrofitting strategies. By applying this method to 14 case studies of social housing in Bilbao, Spain, it was obtained a prioritization map with six levels of vulnerability that can serve as a tool for public entities to design their future strategies. It has been proven that building compactness and year of construction are important factors with a great impact on the heating demand and final consumption in dwellings. Acknowledging the vulnerability context of the building stock eases the decision-making process and the definition of intervention guidelines, prioritizing those in a situation of greater vulnerability

La regeneración urbana en la CAPV. Divergencias entre el discurso y la realidad

343 p.Los procesos de regeneración urbana pueden ser cruciales para lograr la transición hacia un nuevo modelo de desarrollo que dote a las ciudades de la suficiente complejidad, vitalidad y eficacia para hacer frente a las dinámicas segregativas y las injusticias sociales actuales. No obstante, para ello es preciso que dichos procesos se entiendan como transformaciones urbanas integrales e integradoras que hagan posible la inserción de las áreas vulnerables y de sus habitantes en el sistema urbano al que pertenecen. Esta premisa se ha ido incorporando al discurso entorno a la regeneración urbana a lo largo de más de tres décadas de andadura de las políticas públicas de este ámbito, sin embargo, esta evolución no se ha visto reflejada de manera directa en su implementación.A través de la investigación realizada se ha constatado la debilidad y la ambigüedad del discurso político en esta materia: contiene la complejidad de los planteamientos teóricos que se vienen desarrollando a escala europea pero carece de voluntad política y de instrumentos para llevarlos a cabo. A su vez, el estudio de los planes y programas impulsados por el Gobierno Vasco, ha permitido verificar que las divergencias existentes entre los objetivos estratégicos y su aplicación a escala local han aumentado y la incidencia de los programas en las áreas más vulnerables ha disminuido a medida que se han ido complejizando las propuestas teóricas

Analysis of Energy Retrofit Assessment Methodologies in Buildings by European Research Projects

Energy retrofit of existing buildings is one of the main keys to achieve European Union's decarbonising objectives defined in the European Green Deal. In order to proceed into them, European policy has been adapted and several research projects are developed. The aim of this paper is to analyse the assessment methodology of the research projects, setting up the overview of the assessed fields and the criteria followed to perform and evaluate each project. As working methodology, 18 projects have been studied, firstly characterising by the main parameters and afterwards analysing the assessment followed by each one. This analysis is decomposed into five parameters: the assessment scope, reflecting the fields covered by the project's assessment; data source, the nature of the data; verification, use of data verification strategies; and implementation of life cycle thinking in the assessment methodology. The research shows that although the projects have their bases in the EU energetic targets they also cover a wider scope, assessing many fields and combining many sources of data. However, despite the large knowledge already defined by many projects, there is a lack of global and complete roadmap to be followed.Part of the work presented in this paper belongs to the research Project LOCAL-REGEN (PID2019-104871RB-C22), funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation -State Research Agency/10.13039/50110001103

A Multi-Criteria Analysis GIS Tool for Measuring the Vulnerability of the Residential Stock Based on Multidimensional Indices

There is extensive scientific evidence showing that the characteristics of the urban and residential environment directly affect people’s quality of life and health. In this framework, numerous building renovation policies have been developed in Europe, mainly focused on improving energy efficiency. However, we are dealing with a multifactorial and multicausal phenomenon of a complex system where competent institutions need quantitative diagnosis mechanisms that consider this holistic vision when making decisions and prioritizing interventions. Regarding this, the present research develops the potential of the multi-criteria methodology in a first proposal, which integrates social, energy, environmental and spatial aspects linked to the relationship between housing and the effects on the health of its inhabitants. It is a multidimensional method based on systematized and exportable vulnerability indices, which applies indicators that have been calculated using cadastral data and a typomorphological characterization of the residential stock. The analysis of the results through geostatistical techniques of autocorrelation and clustering applied to the case study of Donostia-San Sebastián shows that the proposed methodology is effective in achieving the objectives set. The associated GIS tool has proved to be agile and replicable.This work was supported by the Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa under Grant 2020-CIEN-000049-01

An Integrated Approach to Transportation and Land-Use Planning for the Analysis of Former Railway Nodes in Sustainable Transport Development: The Case of the Vasco-Navarro Railway

The disappearance of kilometers of railways that once structured their surrounding territory has become an alarming issue in the last decades. These days, several disused railway infrastructures have been converted into non-motorized transport infrastructures. Meanwhile, most of the railway nodes have been abandoned or reused without consideration of the linear infrastructure. This paper argues that former railway nodes can have potential in their surrounding environment and as part of a non-motorized transport axis, i.e., to again be nodes of the former linear infrastructure. Accordingly, the objective of the paper is to analyze the potential of disused railway nodes, focusing on the possibilities they could offer in the area, and defining future approaches for more sustainable development. For that purpose, relations between former railway nodes and their surrounding environment are studied considering transport and land use in the non-motorized influence areas. Existing node/place models were adapted and a multiaxial model was created to measure the balance between transport and land use and typify the defined area. The proposed methodology was applied in a case study, classifying node areas in different development typologies that will be related to different future approaches.This research was supported by a research training grant from the Department of Education, Language policy and Culture of the Basque Government (Predoctoral Training Program for Non-Doctor Research Staff, PRE_2013_1_946)

Assessing Thermal Comfort Perception in the Context of Social Housing. Case Study in Northern Spain

The influence of people on building performance in terms of energy efficiency and environmental impact is becoming increasingly significant. It is essential to include users’ perspective, their comfort and satisfaction in decision making to ensure not only their well-being, but also the feasibility of interventions and the adequate performance of the building stock. Furthermore, understanding residents’ level of thermal satisfaction can enable more appropriate measures to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. Although there are several methods for studying thermal comfort, such as qualitative analyses based on surveys or perceived comfort indices such as PPD and PMV, thermal satisfaction is susceptible to the subjectivity of the responses. It may be necessary to contrast different indices or methods. This study aims to define an indicator that measures the level of thermal satisfaction of social housing occupants so that it can be contrasted with other methods of analysis of perceived comfort and can be replicated in different building contexts. A way to analyse users’ thermal satisfaction is proposed in a quantitative way, measured as the difference of the desired temperature and the perceived indoor temperature. The index is applied to a sample of 283 social housing dwellings in the Basque Country, Spain, with the data obtained via surveys that include questions on thermal comfort in winter and households’ characteristics. The thermal satisfaction has been analysed and the results have been contrasted with the perceived thermal comfort in winter and the household’s capacity to maintain the dwelling at the desired temperature. Moreover, it has been observed whether there may be energy vulnerabilities by contrasting the satisfaction result with the income and expenditure per person in the household. The obtained variable provides occupants’ opinion and perception to ensure the suitability of the solutions for improving the energy efficiency of the building and the thermal comfort. It is also possible to apply it to different building typologies and compare the results with other models of perceived thermal comfort

An Integrated Approach to Transportation and Land-Use Planning for the Analysis of Former Railway Nodes in Sustainable Transport Development: The Case of the Vasco-Navarro Railway

The disappearance of kilometers of railways that once structured their surrounding territory has become an alarming issue in the last decades. These days, several disused railway infrastructures have been converted into non-motorized transport infrastructures. Meanwhile, most of the railway nodes have been abandoned or reused without consideration of the linear infrastructure. This paper argues that former railway nodes can have potential in their surrounding environment and as part of a non-motorized transport axis, i.e., to again be nodes of the former linear infrastructure. Accordingly, the objective of the paper is to analyze the potential of disused railway nodes, focusing on the possibilities they could offer in the area, and defining future approaches for more sustainable development. For that purpose, relations between former railway nodes and their surrounding environment are studied considering transport and land use in the non-motorized influence areas. Existing node/place models were adapted and a multiaxial model was created to measure the balance between transport and land use and typify the defined area. The proposed methodology was applied in a case study, classifying node areas in different development typologies that will be related to different future approaches.This research was supported by a research training grant from the Department of Education, Language policy and Culture of the Basque Government (Predoctoral Training Program for Non-Doctor Research Staff, PRE_2013_1_946)

Occupants’ behavioural diversity regarding the indoor environment in social housing. Case study in Northern Spain

Previous research has shown that differences in preferences, habits, and uses can exist in buildings with similar characteristics, which can influence building performance, energy efficiency, and the well-being of occupants. Among this diversity, those residing in social housing have specific socio-economic and cultural characteristics. This study aims to provide evidence of the diversity of thermal preferences and heating-related behaviours in public social rental housing. It also seeks to develop a methodology for identifying behavioural and occupancy patterns that can be applied in building simulation programs and building stock management. To identify occupancy and heating patterns, quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods were applied. The data was collected from a variety of sources, including sensors and surveys. Advanced statistical methods were used to analyse the data and identify patterns and trends. The study was conducted in 58 dwellings of a public social rental housing building in northern Spain. The results showed a lack of association between perceived and monitored thermal comfort. Additionally, variability in the use of the dwelling has been found among similar socioeconomic profiles. The analysis of behavioural diversity revealed six clusters based on energy consumption behaviour, including occupancy patterns and heating usage. The patterns obtained can be integrated into building performance simulation programs, resulting in a more nuanced and accurate representation of energy consumption patterns. Moreover, these patterns can provide valuable insight into the diversity of energy consumption behaviours. This can be leveraged to unlock new opportunities for energy savings, efficiency gains, and enhancing the well-being of occupants across a variety of use cases.The authors would like to acknowledge the Public Society Alokabide and the company STECHome for their support and contribution, as well as for the information, access and monitoring data provided. This research work will form part of a doctoral theses carried out by S. Perez-Bezos, funded by the Call for tender for a researcher training at the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU 2019 (PIF19/139). Open Access funding provided by University of the Basque Country

Relationship Between Energy Demand, Indoor Thermal Behaviour and Temperature-Related Health Risk Concerning Passive Energy Refurbishment Interventions

The main objective of this article is to demonstrate that passive energy refurbishment interventions influence comfort conditions of households for both cold and hot annual periods, while they help to avoid or promote temperature-related health risk situations. However, improving the thermal efficiency of the building envelope is encouraged in order to reduce energy demand for heating and cooling instead of considering also their impact on users' health. The calculation methodology to quantify improvements, on the other hand, is drawn from regulation-based standards, which describe the optimal achievable efficiency levels and energy cost savings. The present study, however, addresses how diverse thermal performance variables are (climate, thermal comfort range and occupancy rate), and shows that different thermal assessment standards influence the obtained results. An energy simulation approach was developed to evaluate different scenarios and compare the results. In conclusion, the results contribute to an understanding or to a discussion of the suitability of current energy renovation policies with regard to indoor thermal comfort and temperature-related health risk situations.The corresponding author would like to acknowledge the Department of Education, Language Policy and Culture of the Basque Government for the Predoctoral Training Programme for Non-Doctor Research Personnel from which was beneficent (PRE_2015_1_002) during the research period. Furthermore, the authors thank the Department of Architecture of the University of the Basque Country for the financial support given for this research

Surveillance and Foresight Process of the Sustainable City Context: Innovation Potential Niches and Trends at the European Level

Over the last decades, the environmental situation of the planet has worsened. Much of the pollution and energy consumption is attributed to cities, which are expected to increase in size and population in the coming years. It is therefore necessary to develop systems to make them more sustainable and resilient. In this regard, different agendas, strategies, and regulations have been published, such as the 2030 Agenda. The current research carried out a surveillance and foresight process at the European level in the field of the sustainable city, analyzing actions accomplished, ongoing, or forthcoming from 2014 to the present (2020) and coming years. The objective is to identify the potential niches and opportunities for decision making to develop successful projects in this sector. The study concludes that one of the most promoted themes is related to the environment, highlighting nature and biodiversity in cities to improve environmental quality and achieve the decarbonization necessary to fight climate change. Furthermore, society plays an important role, emphasizing the need to promote the population’s inclusion and empowerment. It also underlines the promotion of urban regeneration, which should include energy transition and digitalization to create smart cities, with local circular economies.This research is included in the project CISO30, which was funded by the directorate of territorial planning and the urban agenda of the department of territorial planning, housing, and transport of the Basque government