Urban energy analysis and building performance evaluation: the case of Segrate Municipality

As complex systems with technical, economic, social, cultural, institutional, and natural elements involved, cities are responsible for the consumption of natural resources, energy (electricity and heating/cooling), and for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With the increasing of population and of the socio-economic development level, the energy need increase as well. An efficient and sustainable urban energy system needs new technologies on the supply side, high-performance distribution infrastructure, and low consumptions on the user side. Buildings, as physical structures and as boxes for urban functions, can play a significant role as energy savers due to their constructive technologies and green, low energy or passive design principles. Furthermore, more energy efficient buildings will enhance the quality of citizens’ life in indoor and outdoor environments, mitigate energy inequalities in urban areas and improve urban energy efficiency. In the general framework of the European H2020 project RENergetic, considering the European directive on Green Home that sets specific goals for buildings energy performance before 2030, authors present a descriptive-analytical research with an analysis on the energy performance of the built settlements in the Municipality of Segrate (in Milan metropolitan area). In detail, using an ad-hoc GIS-database including building practices (in progress and completed) for the Superbonus (Italian tax incentive for buildings’ energy efficiency enhancement) this study aims to identify the current energy status, creating an Energy Map and the scenario of future energy demand (and production) at the municipality scale.