Environmental Retrofit: Energy upgrades of urban dwellings

ABSTRACT: This paper focuses on retrofitting measures as vehicle to reduce heating energy consumption in the domestic sector. It reports on the potential energy savings yielded by common upgrading strategies in relation to the original constructive systems and building typologies. The investigation starts from a thorough study of the context which comprises the climate analysis, urban environment and constructive typologies. The basic thermal principles of each retrofitting technique are then explored to find out the patterns which allow the attainment of their optimum output in every situation. These patterns are confirmed by computer simulations which state different efficiency depending on the typology of the building subjected. The research provides also an estimation of the embodied energy of every system as further indicators on how to optimize resources in an energy retrofitting project