Ricerc@Sapienza

The U values assumptions for construction components represent a significant source of uncertainty when estimating the energy performance of buildings. This uncertainty affects decision-making processes in multiple ways, from policy making to design of new and refurbished buildings. The correct estimation of both static (e.g. thermal transmittance) and dynamic thermal properties is crucial for quality assurance in building performance assessment.

Building energy performance has a key role in the international energy scenario. Labelling procedures have been developed in several countries for certifying the environmental sustainability of buildings, aiming at reducing energy consumptions and environmental impacts. In this study, the impacts of the insulating materials on the energy and environmental performance of a residential building have been analysed.

Due to the Energy Performance of Building Directive 2010/31/UE (EPBD) recast, new and existing buildings have the aim to achieve the Zero Energy Buildings (ZEBs) requirements, in order to reduce the carbon emission and the energy building demand. Therefore, the building process cost is increasing, related to the applications of performant construction and efficiencies energy systems. In literature, several studies highlight the importance of innovative approaches in order to reduce the cost of the ZEB targets achievement, during the early stage design process.

While the day in which nearly zero energy buildings is quickly approaching, their construction cost remains higher than minimum requirements' ones, in this framework operates CoNZEBs (Solution sets for the cost reduction of new Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings) Project, funded EU Horizon 2020. This paper explores a critical point identified by the project: potential cost reductions in the design and construction process.