Renovating Building Groups in the Mediterranean Climate: Cost-Effectiveness of Renewable-Based Heating Alternatives in the Italian Context

Teresa Blázquez, Tiziano Dalla Mora, Simone Ferrari, Piercarlo Romagnoni, Lorenzo Teso () and Federica Zagarella
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Teresa Blázquez: Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (ABC), Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
Tiziano Dalla Mora: Department of Architecture and Arts, Università IUAV di Venezia, 30135 Venezia, Italy
Simone Ferrari: Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (ABC), Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
Piercarlo Romagnoni: Department of Architecture and Arts, Università IUAV di Venezia, 30135 Venezia, Italy
Lorenzo Teso: Department of Architecture and Arts, Università IUAV di Venezia, 30135 Venezia, Italy
Federica Zagarella: Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (ABC), Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 19, 1-20

Abstract: District level approaches for the renovation of the building stock boost the implementation of energy efficiency measures (EEMs), taking advantage of the economies of scale. International Energy Agency Annex 75 aims to assess the cost-effectiveness of renovation strategies at the district level, combining EEMs and renewable energy sources. For this goal, a building energy model is simulated with the Energy Plus dynamic calculation engine for assessing the generic district of the Italian case study, representing the residential stock from 1960 to 1980, placed in two prevailing space-heating dominated climates; then, a cost-effectiveness evaluation of each scenario is conducted to support stakeholders’ decision making. In particular, envelope insulation is cost-effective only in northern zones, while new decentralized thermal systems are not convenient in any case with current envelopes. Once the envelopes are insulated, decentralized low-temperature air-to-water heat pumps with PV can cover all of the buildings’ energy needs, even implying a small increase in annual costs. The switch to district net scenarios is cost-effective only if coupled with PV. A rise in energy prices brings PV-based strategies under a 10-year PBT, except for solar thermal DH in northern areas, as well as non-PV-based options such as low-temperature HPs or biomass-fuelled DH in warmer and colder zones, respectively.

Keywords: cost-effective strategies; building renovation scenarios; renewables in buildings; generic district; energy efficiency measures; district heating; Mediterranean climate; Italian housing context (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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