Lucia Ceccherini Nelli

Energy-Saving Solutions for Five Hospitals in Europe

This chapter is the result of a European research project developed by the University of Florence – Centro ABITA on adopting energy-saving strategies to reduce the annual energy demand in new and retrofitted hospital buildings. The research project, which is funded by the European Union, aims to apply energy-saving strategies, advanced technologies and plant solutions in five case studies in different climatic areas of Europe: Meyer Children’s Hospital in Italy, Fachkrankenhaus Nordfriesland Hospital in Germany, Torun City Hospital in Poland, Deventer Hospital in the Netherlands, and Aabenraa Hospital in Denmark. The research aims to demonstrate the significant opportunity to reduce energy demand in the European hospital sector, thereby contributing to a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions. The main goal is the integration of strategies for energy efficiency in the hospital sector, in compliance with current regulations, improving environmental quality and ecosystems and promoting sustainable management of natural resources. Innovative strategies for the integration of renewable energies in buildings are combined with bioclimatic design to improve building control and management, upgrading energy efficiency, thermal control and comfort, natural ventilation, and daylighting. Moreover, the use of photovoltaic modules, high-efficiency heat pumps, integration with surrounding green areas, and the use of vegetation inside buildings are explored as opportunities to both reduce energy demand and improve patient comfort. At the end of the project, the researchers provide an overview of the results achieved on indoor comfort, energy savings, and CO2 not emitted through the energy solutions adopted.

Climate Adapted in NZEB Retrofitting for Residential Buildings

The climate-adapted residential nearly zero-energy building (NZEB) retrofitting project aims to update and upgrade the knowledge and competence of building designers (architects, civil engineers) as well as the specific skills of experienced building workers (site managers, craftsmen, and construction supervisors) who already have a decent background in sustainable energy solutions for the building sector gained by attending national Build Up Skills initiatives or related training. The overall objective is to increase the energy performance of European building stock as envisioned in EU Energy Efficiency Directive 2012/27/EU by supporting specific professional development through a broad roll-out of an integrated training model targeting both designers in the building sector and higher-level building workers, especially of SMEs. The training model will address, among the others, the management of the construction process and the active promotion of market uptake of cost-efficient, climate adapted Smart Retrofitting Solutions in order to reach NZEB standards in existing residential buildings.

A University Master’s Course and Training Programme for Energy Managers and Expert in Environmental Design in Italy

This paper presents the learning activities of the second level Master course, ABITA – Architecture Bioecology and Technological Innovation for the Environment – that involves energy expert training in the field of energy efficiency.

Photovoltaic and Thermal Solar Concentrator Integrated into a Dynamic Shading Device

This paper presents the design of a photovoltaic/thermal solar concentrator (PV/ST) integrated into a system for external shading device suitable for different building typologies such as office facilities or residential houses.

Integration Strategies of Luminescent Solar Concentrator Panels: A Case Study in Florence, Italy

The paper deals with few solutions for the integration of a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) realized with color dye-sensitized solar cells, some of them produced by ENI Donegani Institute and analyzed by Politecnico di Milano. By this paper, we want to show the versatility of LSC panel either on the facade of a building or on urban lighting.

Sustainable Strategies for Protecting and Managing Cultural Heritages: The Case Study of Gonfienti in the Tuscany Region of Italy

Global warming has caused an unprecedented rise in sea levels as well as increased storm intensity. Both phenomena are responsible for an increase in flooding and erosion of many archaeological sites located on the coast, which constitute a weak interface between the hydrosphere, atmosphere, anthroposphere, and lithosphere. The present research project aims to develop a sustainable model for safeguarding archaeological sites from the adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation. In addition, by implementing site-specific planning and design based on ecological, bioclimatic, and energy-efficient strategies and techniques, sustainable preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage sites can be achieved to increase sitings and accessibility to sites.

Photovoltaic-Integrated Buildings in Florence and Lucca, Italy: Case Studies

When using the integrated approach, solar systems become part of the general building design. In fact, they often become regular building elements. This is due to the fact that integrating solar systems into the building envelope is often a necessity if the systems are to be economically feasible. The solar elements cannot be separate elements that are added after the building, or at least the architectural design of it, is complete. Rather, they must replace other building elements, thereby serving dual functions and reducing total costs.

50—Energy Efficiency in Retrofitting a European Project for Training on Renewable Energy Solutions (REE_TROFIT)

REE_TROFIT (www.reetrofit.eu) project (founded by the EU Commission in the Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) program) aims to contribute to solve the shortage of local qualified and accredited retrofitting experts, as foreseen in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and its recast—and as indicated by various European countries in an assessment by the European Commission (EC)—for increasing the energy performance of the existing building stock. REE_TROFIT will use the in-house know-how and experiences of participants in carrying out vocational courses on innovative eco-building technologies. REE_TROFIT project defines best practices for institutionalization and implementation of vocational courses on renewable energy (RE) solutions and energy efficiency (EE) in retrofitting, setting up, and implementing a large-scale educational scheme and by fostering exchange of knowledge and best practices among stakeholders.