M. Zuniga and G. Dini (Eds): S-Cube 2013, LNICST 122, pp. 127–142, 2013.
© Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering 2013
Comparative LCA Evaluations between Conventional
Interventions and Building Automation Systems for
Energetic Requalification Activities
Alessandra Pierucci and Guido R. Dell‘Osso
Polytechnic of Bari, DICATECh
Via Orabona 4, 70124 Bari, Italy
pieruccialex@gmail.com, dellosso@poliba.it
Abstract. The aim of the research is to investigate how the use of building
automation and control systems could represent a valid tool for the achievement of
a higher level of energy efficiency in the existing building panorama. The project
develops a sustainability evaluation of an Italian dwelling with technological and
typological features of sixties-seventies buildings; two alternative efficiency
strategies were compared. The first one, more conventional, consisting in the
application of walls’ exterior thermal coat and substitution of existing windows; the
second one, with the implementation of a specific building automation system for
the management of existing components and building services. The results of the
research, in terms of computer energy modeling and Life Cycle Assessment
evaluations, have demonstrated, by using the second option, a higher potential in
achieving a reduction in energy consumption during the use phase, together with a
lower resources investment for the energy improvement goal.
Keywords: Building requalification, Energy efficiency, Automation, Life
Cycle Assessment, Sustainability.
1 Introduction
Between all the available systems and technologies for the environmental parameters
control, there are many features, for components’ and equipments’ management, that
can be used to achieve a high level of building energy efficiency.
Several researches [1,2,3,4,5,6,7] concentrated in the last years to test which
building automation (BA) system is the most effective in reducing building energy
consumption, in increasing the comfort levels for occupants and at last in improving
the balance between the performance of the building and user’s requirements
modification during the time. Therefore for several authors [8,9,10,11,12,13] the
intelligent building is the integration of structures, system, services management
strategies oriented to ensure a responsive and active control of the interchanges
between external and internal environment, in a sustainable, adaptive and dynamic
way.