Reducing CO 2 Emissions and Improving Water Resource Circularity by Optimizing Energy Efficiency in Buildings

Giada Romano, Serena Baiani, Francesco Mancini () and Fabrizio Tucci
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Giada Romano: Planning Design Technology of Architecture Department, ‘‘Sapienza” University of Rome, 00196 Rome, Italy
Serena Baiani: Planning Design Technology of Architecture Department, ‘‘Sapienza” University of Rome, 00196 Rome, Italy
Francesco Mancini: Planning Design Technology of Architecture Department, ‘‘Sapienza” University of Rome, 00196 Rome, Italy
Fabrizio Tucci: Planning Design Technology of Architecture Department, ‘‘Sapienza” University of Rome, 00196 Rome, Italy

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 17, 1-20

Abstract: Climate neutrality by 2050 is a priority objective and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and improving the circularity processes of resources are the imperatives of regulatory and economic instruments. Starting from the central themes of the mitigation of the causes of climate change and the interdependence represented by the water–energy nexus, this research focuses, through the application of the principles of the circular and green economy, on deep energy zero-emission renovation through the improvement of circularity processes of water resources in their integration with energetic ones on the optimization of their management within urban districts, to measure their capacity to contribute towards reducing energy consumption and CO 2 emissions during water use and distribution in buildings. After defining the key strategies and the replicable intervention solutions for the circularity of water resources, the investigation focuses on the definition of the research and calculation method set up to define, in parallel, the water consumption of an urban district and the energy consumption necessary to satisfy water requirements and CO 2 emissions. Starting from the application of the calculation method in an existing urban district in Rome, 10 indicators of quantities have been developed to define water and energy consumption and their related CO 2 emissions, focusing on the obtained results to also define some interventions to reduce water and energy consumption and CO 2 emissions in territories that suffer a medium-risk impact from contemporary climatic conditions.

Keywords: energy efficiency; climate change mitigation; water–energy nexus; resource circularity; water use and distribution in buildings; reduction in CO 2 emissions; optimization of water use; optimization of energy use (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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