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Energy retrofitting of residential buildings is considered a challenge to be tackled not only at building level, but also at urban scale, to give a stronger impulse for a concrete transition towards climate neutrality. This paper presents an easy-to-use analysis method based on the elaboration and scaling-up of data collected through the energy performance certificates (EPCs) to identify different urban energy zones distinguished by their energy performance index. This method is therefore conceived for better informing urban planning decisions, thus boosting more effective energy-sensitive urban planning strategies and eventually to foresee dedicated financial instruments to act in the more energy demanding areas of the city, establishing priorities for integrated strategies. This analytical method has been applied and tested in one municipality in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy, where the recent urban planning law is pushing municipalities towards the development of urban planning strategies oriented to drastically improve the energy efficiency of the existing building stock. Results show that only a small number of areas manage to reach a good performance with fairly low levels of energy performance index, with the most critical situation found in the most central areas of the capital and in the hamlets. • Easy-to-use method for assessing energy performance of residential building at urban scale is proposed • Method based on data easily available for local authorities, like energy performance certificates (EPCs) and urban morphology • The method supports urban planners in municipalities in taking more targeted decisions for improving energy efficiency • The main output of the method is the definition of an energy performance index (EPI) for different urban contexts • EPI allows to wisely balance economic incentives, identifying areas where multi-purpose interventions are recommended [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the various heating technologies that can be applied to urban areas district heating is recognized to allow significant reduction in primary energy consumption, provided that the system is properly designed and operated. Thermo-fluid dynamic simulation tools can be of extreme importance in order to achieve this objective. This paper aims at presenting a thermo fluid dynamic model for the detailed simulation of large district heating network and showing how it can be usefully applied to examine options for the reduction of primary energy consumption. The model is tested using experimental data and then applied for analyzing transient operations of the Turin district heating network, which is the largest network in Italy and one of the largest in Europe. A comparison between simulations and experimental results shows that the model is able to predict the temperature in the nodes of the network with good accuracy. The thermal power required to each plant is also calculated with a good level of accuracy. The model can be used for the simulation of operational strategies, thus representing a versatile and important tool for the implementation of advanced management such as the installation of local storage units or the variation of user request schedules. • A thermo-fluid dynamic model for the detailed simulation of large DHNs is proposed. • The model receives data from the substations as the input. • The transient simulation of the Turin DHN is compared with measurements. • The model can be applied to implement advanced management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This work is focused on the planning of rational heating systems for urban areas. District heating is an important option to supply heat to the users in urban areas. The energy sustainability of such option depends on the annual energy request, the population density and the efficiency in heat production. Among the alternative technologies, geothermal heat pumps play a crucial role. Nevertheless, in densely populated areas, an additional consideration is necessary: the subsurface thermal degradation caused by heat pump installations may affect the performances of surrounding installations. This paper aims to propose a procedure to select which users in an urban area should be connected with a district heating network and which ones should be heated through an alternative technology, in order to reach a globally optimal system from the energy viewpoint. The analysis of potential interferences between heat pumps is here conducted using a thermo-fluid dynamic model of the subsurface. The application to an Italian town is considered as a test case for the procedure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]