Economic and environmental assessment of thermal insulation. A case study in the Italian context

Abstract An analysis of the state of the art has shown how current European policy underpins the importance of assessing the impact of different energy efficiency strategies during the life cycle of buildings. In this study a framework is developed for the identification of the optimal material to be used to achieve the highest level of energy efficiency in building retrofits, taking into account environmental and economic elements and comparing different scenarios. For each of these scenarios the Life Cycle Cost Analysis was applied together with related environmental analysis in terms of the production of CO2. The research was applied to an industrial factory in Italy. Results showed that, among ten material with different origin, namely plant, animal, mineral and fossil origin, the optimal thickness varied between 0.023 m of the line fiber, and 0.082 m of the rock wool. From the economic point of view, saving was between 1.58 €/m2 with the linen fiber, and 9.63 €/m2 with the rock wool. Finally, considering the environmental aspect, savings in terms of CO2 was possible only for three of the ten materials, namely cork, sheep wool and fiber glass, respectively equal to 0.14 Kg/m2, 0.65 Kg/m2 and 0.34 Kg/m2. The study has important implications mainly regarding the issue of energy efficiency. Specifically, the opportunity to analyse and compare economic and environmental aspects of a series of alternative materials to improve energy efficiency may provide stakeholders with calculated and objective input for the support of sustainable actions. Sum up, this research has identified a "result oriented" methodology comparing traditional and sustainable materials and measuring the benefits from the correct insulation of a building. These benefits are mainly of an economic and environmental nature and, in this regard, the study helps to strengthen the leadership of the EU for a sustainable use of natural resources within an efficient bioeconomy, essential to achieve Sustainable Development Goals

Solar Photovoltaic Optimal Tilt Angles in Public Building

Abstract The reduction of the consumption of fossil fuels that cause climate change and the encouragement of the use of cleaner renewable sources, appears to be a fundamental objective for achieving the climate aims agreed in Paris. Moreover, the sustainability of the implementation of solutions for energy efficiency in public administration buildings has played a fundamental role in recent years, strengthened also by the regulatory context of energy and environmental policies of European countries. The research fits into this context and it intends to promote a methodology that is able to evaluate the economic and environmental performance of a photovoltaic system applied in a school located in Italy when only the roof inclination angle changes. The economic and environmental performances are evaluated respectively through Life Cycle Cost Analysis and the avoided CO2 emissions. The results show that although the case study does not present the optimal roof inclination angle, there are economic and environmental advantages. Furthermore, the research notes that, considering the characteristics of the photovoltaic system concerned, the optimal roof inclination angle is equal to 40 degrees from an economic and environmental point of view. This methodology could easily support the decision-making process of designers and administrators to make the energy upgrading choices for the promotion of renewable sources. It was applied to a case study, that is a school located in Italy, in the Abruzzo region, in the province of L'Aquila, but it could be easily replicated in other existing public buildings in different locations

ACTIVE HOUSE PROTOCOL APPLICATION IN MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE : an energy-efficient kindergarden in Coppito

La U.E. intende raggiungere la neutralità climatica entro il 2050. Questo articolo mira a colmare il divario nella scelta di soluzioni migliorative delle condizioni di vita negli assetti territoriali (SDG n.11) per il raggiungimento delle prestazioni energetiche attese (SDG n.7) e diffondere l’adozione di nuovi approcci e misure per la progettazione sostenibile (SDG n.13). Tali obiettivi sono stati conseguiti mediante l’applicazione di un processo di reverse engineering all’asilo Ape Tau, L’Aquila, località Coppito, dopo il sisma del 2009. Le soluzioni progettuali impiegate nell’edificio sono state analizzate secondo livelli quantitativi suggeriti dall’approccio olistico del protocollo Active House, che fornisce la metodologia per verificare le prestazioni dell’edificio secondo criteri di comfort, energia e ambiente. I risultati evidenziano elevate prestazioni dell’edificio costruito con tecnologia stratificata a secco e l’efficacia del metodo basato su analisi process- oriented a utente, ambiente e territorio. L’articolo propone un paradigma innovativo per la riqualificazione degli edifici, replicabile in numerosi contesti e differenti condizioni climaticheThe E.U. aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This article aims to fill the gap in the selection of solutions to improve living conditions in territorial assets (SDG n.11) to achieve the expected energy performance (SDG n.7) and disseminate the adoption of new approaches and measures for sustainable design (SDG n.13). These objectives were met through the application of a reverse engineering process to the Ape Tau kindergarten in L'Aquila, Coppito area, after the 2009 earthquake. The building's design solutions were investigated according to quantitative levels suggested by the holistic approach of the Active House protocol, which provides the methodology to verify the building's performance according to comfort, energy and environmental criteria. The results highlight the high performance of the building constructed with multilayer dry technology and the method's effectiveness based on process-oriented analysis to user, environment and territory. The article proposes an innovative paradigm for building requalification replicable in numerous contexts and different climatic conditions

ACTIVE HOUSE PROTOCOL APPLICATION IN MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE An energy-efficient kindergarten in Coppito

The E.U. aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This article aims to fill the gap in the selection of solutions to improve living conditions in territorial assets (SDG n.11) to achieve the expected energy performance (SDG n.7) and disseminate the adoption of new approaches and measures for sustainable design (SDG n.13). These objectives were met through the application of a reverse engineering process to the Ape Tau kindergarten in L'Aquila, Coppito area, after the 2009 earthquake. The building's design solutions were investigated according to quantitative levels suggested by the holistic approach of the Active House protocol, which provides the methodology to verify the building's performance according to comfort, energy and environmental criteria. The results highlight the high performance of the building constructed with multilayer dry technology and the method's effectiveness based on process-oriented analysis to user, environment and territory. The article proposes an innovative paradigm for building requalification replicable in numerous contexts and different climatic conditions

Sustainability of Biogas Based Projects: Technical and Economic Analysis

Biomethane is a renewable gas produced by the transformation of organic matter. It can lead to emissions reduction and it contributes to increasing methane production. Incentive policies favour its development and for this reason, the objective of this paper is to investigate the economic performance of biomethane plants and their process monitoring by electronic systems. Mathematical modeling is here presented to study the financial feasibility of biomethane plants in function of the size (100 m3/h, 250 m3/h, 500 m3/h, 1000 m3/h), the feedstock used (organic fraction of municipal solid waste and a mixture of 30% maize and 70% manure residues on a weight basic) and the destination for final use (fed into the grid, destined for cogeneration or sold as vehicle fuel). From an economic point of view the plant performance is studied by economic tools as Net Present Value and Discounted Payback Time and the uncertainty analysis is implemented using Monte Carlo method. Moreover, from a technical point of view, process monitoring is analyzed to understand what happens in a biomethane plant and help to maintain a stable process. The results show that the profitability of biomethane plants is verified in several scenarios presenting losses only if subsidies were removed

SAFETY MONITORING BY MEANS OF SENSOR NETWORKS DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE FOSSA SITE PLAN

Abstract. The seismic event of 6 April 2009 has inevitably left its mark on the history of the entire territory of L'Aquila (Italy), completely devastating the town and much of the province. Within such frantic and extensive reconstruction activity, the resulting construction works could not but draw attention to some issues of fundamental importance such as coordinated planning, safety, respect for the rules and above all the rebirth of the territory. This research is aimed at drawing up the site plan for Fossa, a municipality in the Province of L'Aquila and not far from the region capital of Abruzzo, Italy. The main objective is to create a monitoring standard by means of a dedicated sensors network and detailed strategies in order to coordinate, guide and support the single actions of intervention through design behaviours and highly technological tools. The Plan is configured as a tool for participatory planning, with the active involvement of planners, companies and citizens, whose common goal is the preservation of the identity of locations, the mitigation of seismic risk and the enhancement of the cultural heritage of the Municipality of Fossa. Implementation of this work is the application of technological systems for construction site monitoring: a concrete response to the growing demand for organized management of the construction process on site and safety in the workplace can be achieved through the use of systems and rational control and management procedures that include the use of innovative technologies

The Cycle route of the upper Aterno valley: between ecotourism and sustainable mobility

Nell’ottica della promozione della mobilità sostenibile e del rilancio e valorizzazione di territori ed alla luce del crescente interesse verso la specifica tematica, la Regione Abruzzo ha avviato uno studio di fattibilità per la realizzazione di una pista polifunzionale nell’Alta Valle dell’Aterno. Il contributo che si intende proporre ha come obiettivo quello di illustrare il percorso decisionale e i risultati che sono stati raggiunti già in tale studio che ha previsto la realizzazione di una dorsale principale e di un sistema di reti, a scopo sia turistico che amatoriale, oltre che come servizio alla mobilità locale. La finalità della ricerca è stata quella di individuare una strategia progettuale facilmente replicabile e di dotare le amministrazioni di uno strumento di programmazione

Sustainability of Biogas Based Projects: Technical and Economic Analysis

Biomethane is a renewable gas produced by the transformation of organic matter. It can lead to emissions reduction and it contributes to increasing methane production. Incentive policies favour its development and for this reason, the objective of this paper is to investigate the economic performance of biomethane plants and their process monitoring by electronic systems. Mathematical modeling is here presented to study the financial feasibility of biomethane plants in function of the size (100 m3/h, 250 m3/h, 500 m3/h, 1000 m3/h), the feedstock used (organic fraction of municipal solid waste and a mixture of 30% maize and 70% manure residues on a weight basic) and the destination for final use (fed into the grid, destined for cogeneration or sold as vehicle fuel). From an economic point of view the plant performance is studied by economic tools as Net Present Value and Discounted Payback Time and the uncertainty analysis is implemented using Monte Carlo method. Moreover, from a technical point of view, process monitoring is analyzed to understand what happens in a biomethane plant and help to maintain a stable process. The results show that the profitability of biomethane plants is verified in several scenarios presenting losses only if subsidies were removed

COFLEX: FLEXIBLE BRACELET ANTI COVID-19 TO PROTECT CONSTRUCTION WORKERS

Abstract. To implement the protocol contrasting the diffusion of Covid-19, the employer is required, to ensure the safety and health of the worker at work, to adopt measures related to the control of body temperature (with respect for privacy), the minimum distance during work and all other activities such as breaks, canteen breaks, access to toilets, in addition to the adoption of specifically developed safety procedures, such as e.g. the use of man-down detection devices. In this context, the project aims to illustrate a system able of providing support in the safeguarding of workers' health on construction sites. This system, based on information received from sensors capable of identifying workers' positions (e.g., if less than 1m away) and their vital parameters (e.g., body temperature, gasped breathing), as well as moving objects inside the construction site area (e.g., to check if a worker is passing under a moving crane), will raise early alerts directly to the workers and/or to the central software, with respect for privacy, to immediately activate all the necessary measures to mitigate the risk. The system, based on the data communicated by the various sensors, will store and process them for the purpose of extracting useful information for risk management. The proposed system configured itself as a new product taking advantage from a high Technology Readiness Level maturated from the Smart Safety Belt already developed by some of the authors

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for engineering geology applications

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