Traditional Houses with Stone Walls in Temperate Climates: The Impact of Various Insulation Strategies

The present chapter focuses on the yearly behaviour of a traditional farmhouse in a temperate Italian climate and analyses the impact of alternative energy saving strategies on summer comfort and winter consumptions. The aim of the current study was to: - identify combinations of thermal insulation interventions which: optimise winter energy saving and summer internal comfort without modifying the close relationship between architecture and specific climate typical of traditional buildings; respect the building material consistency and the façades aesthetic appearance. - compare the performance of this traditional architecture (after the retrofit intervention) with that of a modern building, of the type encouraged by new energy saving legislation (lightweight and super-insulated). To that aim a series of monitoring activities in summer and in winter were carried out to investigate the internal environmental conditions and to calibrate a simulation model with the software Energyplus. This model was used to assess the impact of various energy-saving strategies on winter energy consumptions and summer comfort with the method of Percentage outside the comfort range (EN 15251:2007-08)

design of a smart system for indoor climate control in historic underground built environment

Abstract The application of sensors-actuators networks in Building Heritage can lead to significant improvement in indoor climate control, with the aim to both reduce energy consumption, and improve conditions for occupants and hosted Heritage. This study proposes the preliminary design of a smart indoor climate control system, based on low-impact application criteria, which can be applied to visited underground built environment. The system is based on the balance of hygrothermal loads. Sensors and actuators requirements are defined, and control algorithm are based on the comparison between real-time monitored and "natural" temperature and hygrometric values (for stationary and transitory conditions)

Measuring Occupants' Behaviour for Buildings' Dynamic Cosimulation

Measuring and identifying human behaviours are key aspects to support the simulation processes that have a significant role in buildings' (and cities') design and management. In fact, layout assessments and control strategies are deeply influenced by the prediction of building performance. However, the missing inclusion of the human component within the building-related processes leads to large discrepancies between actual and simulated outcomes. This paper presents a methodology for measuring specific human behaviours in buildings and developing human-in-the-loop design applied to retrofit and renovation interventions. The framework concerns the detailed building monitoring and the development of stochastic and data-driven behavioural models and their coupling within energy simulation software using a cosimulation approach. The methodology has been applied to a real case study to illustrate its applicability. A one-year monitoring has been carried out through a dedicated sensor network for the data recording and to identify the triggers of users' actions. Then, two stochastic behavioural models (i.e., one for predicting light switching and one for window opening) have been developed (using the measured data) and coupled within the IESVE simulation software. A simplified energy model of the case study has been created to test the behavioural approach. The outcomes highlight that the behavioural approach provides more accurate results than a standard one when compared to real profiles. The adoption of behavioural profiles leads to a reduction of the discrepancy with respect to real profiles up to 58% and 26% when simulating light switching and ventilation, respectively, in comparison to standard profiles. Using data-driven techniques to include the human component in the simulation processes would lead to better predictions both in terms of energy use and occupants' comfort sensations. These aspects can be also included in building control processes (e.g., building management systems) to enhance the environmental and system management

Reproductive life disorders in Italian celiac women. A case-control study

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to explore the association between celiac disease and menstrual cycle, gestation and puerperal disorders. METHODS: The association between celiac disease and menstrual cycle, gestation and puerperal disorders in a sample of 62 childbearing age women (15-49 age) was assessed within an age and town of residence matched case-control study conducted in 2008. Main outcome measures were the presence of one or more disorders in menstrual cycle and the presence of one or more complication during pregnancy. RESULTS: 62 celiac women (median age: 31.5, range: 17-49) and 186 healthy control (median age: 32.5, range: 15-49) were interviewed. A higher percentage of menstrual cycle disorders has been observed in celiac women. 19.4% frequency of amenorrhea was reported among celiac women versus 2.2% among healthy controls (OR = 33, 95% CI = 7.17-151.8;, p = 0.000). An association has been observed between celiac disease and oligomenorrhea, hypomenorrhea, dysmenorrhea and metrorrhagia (p < 0.05). The likelihood of having at least one complication during pregnancy has been estimated to be at least four times higher in celiac women than in healthy women (OR = 4.1, 95% CI = 2-8.6, p = 0.000). A significant correlation has emerged for celiac disease and threatened abortion, gestational hypertension, placenta abruption, severe anaemia, uterine hyperkinesia, intrauterine growth restriction (p < 0.001). A shorter gestation has on average been observed in celiac women together with a lower birth weight of celiac women babies (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of a significant correlation between celiac disease and reproductive disorders could suggest to consider celiac disease diagnostic procedures (serological screening) in women affected by these disorders

Soil biodegradation of nutrients enriched cellulose- and chitosan-derived mulching films for sustainable horticulture

In 2019, global plastics production reached 370 million tons, of which 58 million tons were in Europe[1]. If the plastic use in agriculture accounts for 2% of the global production[2], more than 7 million tons of plastic were used in 2019 in the agricultural sector. Mulch films represent the major source of plastic contamination in agricultural soils[3]. The agricultural surface area covered by plastic films in Europe is four times larger than that covered by greenhouses and six times that of low tunnel hoops. Over the past decades, biodegradable biopolymer mulching films (BPMFs) have been developed to reduce soil pollution by non-biodegradable plastic debris[4] and to expand the circular bioeconomy[5]. In Europe, since 1999, low density polyethylene mulches (LDPMs) have to be dismissed after their use to remove source of pollutants that can reach up to 200 kg ha-1[6] and decline soil quality, crop growth, and yield[7]. BPMFs are a sustainable alternative to conventional LDPMs. Unlike LDPMs, BPMFs, at the end of their lifetime, are tilled into soil where they are expected to be biodegraded by soil microorganisms[8]. Moreover, BPMFs show an estimated saving of about 500 kg of CO2 equivalent per hectare in comparison with LDPMs. Conversely, the impact of LDPMs in intensive horticulture could result higher than weed control by herbicides as by life cycle assessment (LCA)[9]. BPMFs can be obtained by thermo-plasticizing, solvent casting and spraying processes by using renewable and biodegradable raw materials such as starch, cellulose, chitosan, alginate, glucomannan[10] and glycerin as plasticizer[11]. Cellulose and chitosan, being the two most abundant natural biopolymers on Earth, have been proposed as the best candidates for BPMFs production. Unfortunately, the high tendency for intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding confers undesirable mechanical properties. The addition of plasticizer as well as fillers overcome this problem[12] modifying mechanical and functional properties of the materials. To sum up, biopolymer blending is an effective strategy to reuse cellulose and chitosan-containing by-products and develop materials with novel mechanical characteristics[13]. Moreover, the functional properties of these materials can be tuned by doping them with suitable compounds[14]. Based on what stated above, and considering that soil fertility, crop growth and yield, are generally N and P limited, the core idea of this project is the preparation of N- and P-enriched BPMFs for soil mulching, in order to slowly release soluble nutrients into soils upon their biodegradation. The latter aspect is of great importance because a proper C:N:P ratio can lead to an increase of soil-dwelling organisms thus contributing to nutrient cycling in the soil-plant system, soil C sequestration and biological fertility status[15]. Moreover, repeated additions of BPMFs over long term can increase the amount of nutrients, thus reducing the use of external inputs (e.g. synthetic fertilizers) within a circular economy perspective. The specific aim of the proposed research are: i) to set up a method for the preparation of suitable BPMFs enriched with N and P; ii) to characterize novel BPMFs and evaluate their structure, degradation kinetics, and isotopic composition iii) to assess the impact of the innovative BPMFs on soil nutrient cycling and crop growth and yield; iv) to evaluate the effect of the innovative BPMFs on soil prokaryotes and micro-arthropods communities; v) to speed-up the biodegradation of the innovative BPMFs by spraying them at the end of their lifecycle with selected microorganisms and by adding the recipient soil with earthworms; vi) to evaluate the innovative BPMFs using the LCA methodology and to investigate its role within the circular economy. Bibliography [1] Plastic Europe, 2020. Website https://www.plasticseurope.org/it/resources/publications/4312-plastics-facts-2020 accessed on 05.01.2021 [2] Vox, G., Loisi, R.V., Blanco, I., Mugnozza, G.S., &amp; Schettini, E. (2016). Agriculture and Agricultural Science Procedia, 8, 583-591. [3] Wenqing, H., Enke, L., Qin, L., Shuang, L., Turner, N., C. &amp; Changrong, Y. 2014. World Agriculture, 4, 3236. [4] Sanchez-Hernandez J.C., Capowiez Y. &amp; Ro K.S., 2020. ACS Sustainable Chemistry &amp; Engineering, 8, 4292-4316. [5] Karan, H., Funk, C., Grabert, M., Oey, M., &amp; Hankamer, B., 2019. Trends in Plant Science, 24, 237-249. [6] Razza, F., Guerrini, S., &amp; Impallari, F.M., 2019. Acta Horticulturae, 1252, 77-84. [7] Hou, L., Xi, J., Chen, X., Li, X., Ma, W., Lu, J., Xu J. &amp; Lin, Y. B, 2019. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 378, 120774. [8] Kyrikou, I., &amp; Briassoulis, D., 2007. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 15, 125–150 [9] Tasca, A. L., Nessi, S., &amp; Rigamonti, L., 2017. Journal of Cleaner Production, 140, 725-741 [10] Santagata, G., Malinconico, M., Immirzi, B., Schettini, E., Scarascia Mugnozza, G., &amp; Vox, G., 2014. Acta Horticulturae 1037(1037), 921-928. [11] D’Avino, L., Rizzuto, G., Guerrini, S., Sciaccaluga, M., Pagnotta, E., &amp; Lazzeri, L. (2015). Industrial Crops and Products, 75, 29-35. [12] Chen, P., Xie, F., Tang, F., &amp; McNally, T. (2021). Influence of plasticiser type and nanoclay on the properties of chitosan-based materials. European Polymer Journal, 144, 110225. [13] Bajpai, A.K., Shukla, S. K., Bhanu, S., &amp; Kankane, S., 2008. Progress in Polymer Science, 33(11), 1088-1118 [14] Sohaimy, M.I.H.A., &amp; Isa, M.I.N.M. et al., 2020. Polymers. 12, 2487 [15] Cleveland, C.C., &amp; Liptzin, D., 2007. Biogeochemistry 85, 235–25

The solar house of Ancona 20 years after: reflection on project and use

This paper reports the appraisal of the solar system’s behaviour applied to a building erected in Ancona in the early ‘80s. The project was born in 1980 and it was presented for the first time during an International Congress in Catania in 1981. This house has been occupied since 1984. It’s a three-storied compact-shaped building including nine flats (six duplex and three simplex). One of them is built in a traditional way while the others are characterized by different passive solar systems: direct gain storage, solar wells, hot greenhouse, cold greenhouse, simple Trombe-wall, lightened Trombe-wall, Trombe-wall with greenhouse, blade interceptor and floor accumulator, ventilated double-glazed window with light deflecting aluminium louvres. After 20 years, an assessment concerning the use and maintenance of the various systems was carried out, underlining different problems such as the raising of the powder and the poor hermetic seal of the valves. As a consequence of these problems some systems have been totally removed and others have been partially used, reducing the thermal performance (for example Trombe-walls with closed vents)