Introduction of the energy parameter in the master plan of a large European town

Panel: Panel 5: Energy Policy for a Sustainable Environment

Authors:
Federico Butera, Politecnico di Milano
Francesco Mereu, Palermo Municipality
Giorgio Schultze, Instituto Ambiente Italia
Gianni Silverstrini, Ieren, National Research Council, Palermo

Abstract

In Italy a national law introduced in 1991 obliges all towns with more than 50.000 inhabitants to draw a municipal energy plan and to introduce the energy parameter in the master plan.

Till now, however, only one large town has complied with this obligation . The only exception is given by the town of Palermo (700.000 inhabitants), in Sicily, that is working on an innovative master plan based on the recovery of the degraded existing structures of the historical centre and of the segregated peripheric areas, allowing for new constructions nearly only for the service sector.

The new territorial locations are analysed considering, inter alia, also the energy parameter. Zoning is defined taking into consideration issues like cogeneration, energy cascading, and in general integrated use of energy; also solar rights are considered and, given the role of urban solar technologies in the next decade, the solar potential of the building roofs has been evaluated.

At the level of the building regulations, specific indications are given in order to improve summer and winter thermal comfort and the energy performance in both retrofit and new buildings.

In conclusion this effort is an interesting example of actions that can be taken at local level in order to improve the rational use of energy and to support the diffusion of solar technologies.