ELENA LUCCHI1; DAGMAR EXNER2

1) Arch PhD Elena Lucchi, EURAC Research, Istituto per le Energie Rinnovabili –Bolzano-Bozen, elena.lucchi@eurac.edu

2) Dipl.-Ing.(FH); M.Eng. Exner Dagmar, EURAC Research, Istituto per le Energie Rinnovabili – Bolzano-Bozen, dagmar.exner@eurac.edu

The paper presents the results of the studies realised on FP7 European Project EFFESUS that aims to reduce the environmental impact on urban heritage, making significant improvements to its energy efficiency, conserving and promoting cultural, historic, and architectural values. The energy and environmental assessment realised in the “Portici” Houses, a part of the historic Centre of Bolzano built at the end of the 12th century, is presented. The original house is a courthouse with arbours lined up continuously along the road axis. The atrium provides daylight and fresh air to the internal dwellings. Unfortunately, more recently the users have inserted roofs to protect from sun and water. This situation has completely changed the original energy behaviour. The project aims to restore the original energy concept in order to adapt it to the modern requirements. The energy retrofitting starts from a thorough understanding of the behaviour of the ancient buildings, supported by historical analyses, energy audit, environmental monitoring, comfort analysis and simulations. The energy model has a central role for evaluating the design alternatives. For this reason, different type of simulation tools are confronted, using both static and dynamic systems. The models are the starting point to develop and implement new and adapted technologies, which are cost-effective, technically and visually suitable for historic buildings and urban settlement.

Keywords: Energy efficiency, energy retrofit, preservation of heritage, low environmental impact, energy behaviour, energy concept, survey for users’ comfort