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The Italian industrial sector contains 22% of the final energy demand due to the poor energy performance of manufacturing buildings. This proposed study aimed to evaluate retrofit interventions for existing industrial buildings integrating photovoltaic solutions into the external envelope to improve both the environmental sustainability and the facade performance. The methodology is based on an innovative procedure including BIM and generative design tools. Starting from the Revit model of a representative case study, interoperability with energy analysis plugins via Grasshopper were exploited to optimize the differently oriented facade layout of photovoltaic modules to maximize the electricity production. In the case of comparable facade sizes, the building orientation had a minor impact on the results, although a southern exposure was preferable. The optimized configuration involved the installation of PV panels with a tilt angle ranging from −35° to −75°. The best compromise solution between the panel surface area and energy production during the summer solstice involves 466 m2 of PV modules. The design-optioneering approach was used to define possible alternatives to be explored for the possible installation of solar shading systems on existing windows. In this case, the impact on visual comfort within the working environment was chosen as a reference parameter, along with the value of the indoor air temperature. A decrease in this parameter equal to 0.46 was registered for the solution with horizontal (or nearly horizontal) shaders and a spacing ranging between 0.2 and 0.4. The integration of the BIM environment with generative design tools effectively assists decision-making processes for the selection of technological solutions in the building sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial buildings in Italy are currently highly energy intensive. Their old age prevents them from complying with current environmental and energy requirements; consequently, redevelopment initiatives should therefore be considered in order to improve the overall performances of these facilities. Within this framework, this research aims to evaluate the results achievable by introducing indirect green façades as retrofitting solutions. Starting from a real case study building located in central Italy, energy simulations were carried out using DesignBuilder, varying buildings' geometry, dimensions and windows-to-wall ratios as well as greenery coverage percentage. The evidence shows an appreciable potential for green walls to improve the summer performance of industrial buildings, as they resulted in a reduction in cooling energy demand during the summer season of about 14%. Moreover, external surface temperature was reduced by 8 °C during the hottest days, ensuring higher durability in building components. Furthermore, indoor air temperature during the summer design week decreased by 0.6 °C. During the winter season, the green façades avoid exploiting free solar gains due to incident solar radiation, and a slight increase of about 4% occurred in heating energy needs. For this reason, the implementation of deciduous vegetation species should be evaluated for industrial buildings located in Mediterranean latitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precast reinforced concrete technology has been widely applied in Italy for industrial facilities throughout the years and nowadays older buildings show structure and energy-related deficiencies. In order to promote integrated redevelopment interventions, the research sets a methodological framework to investigate such a vast building stock and proposes a classification of the different typological variants registered according to structural, architectural, and technological aspects. This paper focuses on the industrial building stock realized recurring to prefabrication techniques in the geographical cluster of Casentino, in Tuscany. The research involved 675 buildings intended for production activities whose specifications were collected in a GIS database as alphanumerical parameters. Data, obtained through digital surveys, aerial views, and on-field recognitions, were postprocessed to provide a general overview of the most recurring characteristics and highlight evolutionary trends over years. Seven typological declinations were identified for prefabricated reinforced concrete industrial buildings and their diffusion was related to the different periods of constructions. Roofing systems, structural solutions, and external wall components were chosen as key parameters for the classification procedures. The definition of recurrent typological solutions in industrial buildings is meant as a preparatory operation that will facilitate the assessment of their current architectural, technological, structural, and specifically energy and environmental performances. This research paves the way toward the development of protocols and guidelines containing integrated retrofitting strategies and solutions tailored on the specific issues of each variant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Densely built areas are affected by higher air-pollutant concentrations, representing a significant risk to public health. At the same time, urban settlements have a remarkable environmental impact: cities are responsible for 70% of annual carbon emissions while buildings account for 37% of global energy and process emissions. Moreover, people living in urban areas are frequently exposed to extreme micro-climate conditions caused by the urban heat island effect, related to increased external air temperature and peculiarities of the built environment. Given this framework and considering the Sustainable Development Goals, it is necessary to point out some effective and strategical mitigation measures to ameliorate micro-climate conditions, reduce pollutants concentration and enhance building performance. This paper investigates the potential advantages of green roofs as retrofitting solutions and tree planting on several micro-climate parameters and particulate matter concentration, considering an industrial district located in Italy and using ENVI-met software. The influence of the extensive green roof on energy performance is further investigated at the building level recurring to Design Builder energy models. Results showed that an extensive green roof could reduce external air temperature by up to 1.5 °C, outer surface temperature by up to 15 °C and wind speed by 50% at roof level compared to current state conditions. The application of the green roof let also to achieve energy savings of 15% for both the summer and winter seasons. Focusing on the effect on particulate matter, intensive green roof solutions proved to be more efficient in capturing air pollutants. • Green roofs' impact on UHI and air pollutants is assessed at the district level. • Extensive green roof is an effective retrofitting measure for industrial buildings. • Tree planting mainly affects micro-climate parameters at a local level. • Outdoor air temperature is reduced by 1.5 °C following green roof adoption. • Heating and cooling energy demand in a manufacturing facility is lowered by 15%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Italy in 2020, only 15.5% of school building heritage was retrofitted from an energy and environmental point of view. In this paper, the cost-optimal method was applied to two different school buildings belonging to the same Italian cold climate zone but characterized by different structural and technological solutions. The research aims at defining the cost-effective redevelopment solution among several ones proposed to apply to this building type. At the same time, this paper provides a critical analysis of the methodology applied, highlighting deficiencies related to a not proper evaluation of environmentally friendly retrofitting measures. In a cost-effective context, the main results show that the intervention on the heating system is more convenient than the retrofitting of the envelope. The energy saving is equal to about 35% for both considered schools. Among the different proposed requalification configurations, the adoption of PV (photovoltaic) electric generation is included. In this regard, an optimization procedure was implemented in a generative design environment to maximize energy production with reference to different design parameters. As a result, a solution with south oriented PV modules with a tilt angle of 42° and arranged in 0.7 m spaced rows proved to be the most effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]