Energy Efficient Building Design: The Borgo Solare Case Study.

The purpose of the article is to describe the work carried out for an Italian project concerning the construction of a sustainable settlement named ‘Borgo Solare’. Borgo Solare is a residential complex situated in the outskirts of the town of Ferrara, constituted by buildings, squares, cycling tracks, green parks, water channels, fountains and a small lake. The main feature of Borgo Solare is that the whole project will be realized according to the criteria of sustainable architecture. This work consists in a specific analysis of the energetic aspects (loads and materials) of a small storey building. The purpose is an appraisal of the weight of the various factors related to environmental impact. The building is analysed in terms of energy performance, economic evaluation and environmental impact.