Embodied Energy and residual performances: assess environmental value of existing buildings

Abstract

The refurbishment of built heritage is a great environmental opportunity to contribute to the reduction of consumption of primary resources, soil and energy. The primary energy and the resources still available as “remaining capacity” to furnish technological performances by building components represent a crucial aspect, although still not fully valued to define the existing environmental value. Here are first results of a research that, both on the basis of eco-inventories data available and the calculation of residual technological performance of building elements, defines the concept of embodied energy “effective”, hiring it as indicator of environmental value for an eco-oriented refurbishment of existing buildings.