A highly energy-efficient house was recently built in Chignolo, near Bergamo in Northern Italy. A ten- year experience in Germany shows that it is possible, with limited technological and economical investment, to achieve a reduction in current energy consumption as large as 90% in comparison with a traditional building. The house in Chignolo is the first example of such a low-energy building in Italy, where the climate is warmer than Germany and summer conditions must be properly addressed in order to avoid overheating. Besides addressing the question of running energy needs, the building in Chignolo was realised with an eye on its performance all over the life cycle and on the well-being of its users: this is why it makes use of dry building techniques (Structure/Envelope, Str/En) on a scale unprecedented in Italy. The house in Chignolo is the first step for the diffusion in Italy of highly efficient energy strategies and building techniques, which are of the utmost importance for the respect of the Kyoto and Johannesburg international agreements on energy and pollution. The research group supervised the design and construction phases, and will be responsible for monitoring the actual performances of the building from 2003 onwards. The strategies currently used in Germany need to be adapted to the many different climates of Italy in order to work as efficiently as in central European areas. In this respect, this sort of full-scale prototype has many lessons to teach.
Super-efficient energy buildings
IMPERADORI, MARCO;MASERA, GABRIELE;
2003-01-01
Abstract
A highly energy-efficient house was recently built in Chignolo, near Bergamo in Northern Italy. A ten- year experience in Germany shows that it is possible, with limited technological and economical investment, to achieve a reduction in current energy consumption as large as 90% in comparison with a traditional building. The house in Chignolo is the first example of such a low-energy building in Italy, where the climate is warmer than Germany and summer conditions must be properly addressed in order to avoid overheating. Besides addressing the question of running energy needs, the building in Chignolo was realised with an eye on its performance all over the life cycle and on the well-being of its users: this is why it makes use of dry building techniques (Structure/Envelope, Str/En) on a scale unprecedented in Italy. The house in Chignolo is the first step for the diffusion in Italy of highly efficient energy strategies and building techniques, which are of the utmost importance for the respect of the Kyoto and Johannesburg international agreements on energy and pollution. The research group supervised the design and construction phases, and will be responsible for monitoring the actual performances of the building from 2003 onwards. The strategies currently used in Germany need to be adapted to the many different climates of Italy in order to work as efficiently as in central European areas. In this respect, this sort of full-scale prototype has many lessons to teach.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
