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Abstract: The paper presents an energy and environmental extended input–output model combined with the life cycle assessment, applied to assess the energy and environmental benefits arising from the Italian policy of tax deduction for energy retrofit actions of buildings. The study allowed to assess the advantages due to the above policy, taking into account both direct and indirect energy saving and avoided CO2 emissions obtained with the retrofit actions and indirect energy consumption and related CO2 emissions due to the realization of the above actions. Moreover, the authors defined an original model to assess the indirect rebound effect caused by the energy saving actions. The obtained results showed that a reliable evaluation of the benefits arising from sustainable policies strongly depends on the indirect rate of the energy consumption and energy saving, that in the examined case study has the same order of magnitude of the direct one, and on the rebound effect, that can partially avoid the obtained benefits. The study represents one of the first Italian experiences aimed at assessing the effectiveness of sustainable production and consumption strategies. It can be used to support decision-makers in the selection of policies aimed at reducing energy and environmental impacts caused by final consumptions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The energy policy in Europe regarding buildings and the energy efficiency sector are regulated by two directives: 2002/91/CE – EPBD and 2006/32/CE – EEESD . The CEN has elaborated a standard to revise all European normatives about building energy performance and HVAC plants. The “CEN Umbrella” CEN/TR 15615 includes a new version of EN ISO 13790:2008 and a new standard about heating plant, use and contributions of renewable energy sources. Furthermore, the CEN Standard provides a software version for technicians. In this paper we present a Round Robin Test between a selection of softwares applied to an Italian case study. The selected calculation methodologies, range from research packages to extra-simplified software. Furthermore, the Italian procedure described in UNI TS 11300 has been analyzed and considered as the reference for all other calculation methodologies. The results of the Round Robin Test show the relationship between thoroughness of data input and energy evaluation accurancy. The more the input data is affected by uncertainty, the less precise is the energy efficiency calculation. On the other hand the energy performance of building evaluation accurancy depends on the aim of the simulation: the energy audit, the energy design or the energy labeling (certification). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The paper investigates the energetic and economic feasibility of a solar-assisted heating and cooling system (SHC) for different types of school buildings and Italian climates. The SHC system under investigation is based on the coupling of evacuated solar collectors with a single-stage LiBr–H2O absorption chiller; auxiliary energy for both heating and cooling is supplied by an electric-driven reversible heat pump. The SHC system was coupled with different types of school buildings located in three different Italian climatic zones. The analysis is carried out by means of a zero-dimensional transient simulation model, developed using the TRNSYS software; the analysis of the dynamic behaviour of the building was also included. An economic model is proposed, in order to assess the operating and capital costs of the systems under analysis. Furthermore, a parametric analysis and a subsequent mixed heuristic-deterministic optimization algorithm was implemented, in order to determine the set of the synthesis/design variables that maximize system profitability. The results are encouraging, as for the potential of energy saving. On the contrary, the SHC economic profitability can be achieved only in case of public funding policies (e.g. feed-in tariffs), as always happens for the great majority of renewable energy systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]