Papers by Walter Pettinato
In Italy, over 75% of the building stock is not only highly energy-consuming, but also earthquake... more In Italy, over 75% of the building stock is not only highly energy-consuming, but also earthquake-prone. Hence, energy renovation actions should be combined with seismic retrofitting. However, a number of barriers (economic, organizational, technical, cultural, legislative, etc.) considerably limit the real possibility to extensively undertake combined retrofit actions, especially for multi-owner and high-rise housing. Since the economic barrier often represents the main leverage to undertake renovation actions, this paper aims at determining the average price and the payback time (PBT) of seismic and energy retrofitting of apartment blocks. To this purpose, we have selected as case study a group of six edifices located in Catania and representative of the residential stock built in southern Italy in the period of greatest urban expansion (1950-1980). The average cost has been defined considering different retrofit interventions, according to the specific features and requirements of each building. Results have shown an average unit cost as high as 440 €/m2 and – thanks to the current fiscal incentives and the reduced energy bill – a PBT of about 11 years that represents a promising value, also to get bank loans.
Energy and Buildings
Abstract Roman baths represent an interesting slice of the ancient culture and an emblematic step... more Abstract Roman baths represent an interesting slice of the ancient culture and an emblematic step in the process of civilization. Their heating system is a meaningful example of the outstanding level of technological progress achieved by the Romans in the art of building. However, while their mode of operation is sufficiently known, there is uncertainty regarding temperatures and relative humidity (RH) maintained in the heated rooms, thermal level and expulsion process of hot flue gases, presence of window glazing and concamerationes . In order to overcome such uncertainty, a multidisciplinary approach − based on in situ analyses, topographic and 3D laser scanning surveys and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations − has been developed by studying the main features of the “Indirizzo” Baths of Catania (Sicily), which represent one of the best-preserved hypocausted thermal buildings anywhere in the Roman Empire. Results show that temperatures in the caldarium ranged between 30 and 35 °C, with a RH of around 60 ÷ 70%, while the thermal level of hot gases inside the hypocaust fluctuated from about 90 to 125 °C, in function of the outdoor climate. Moreover, the original presence of windowpanes and concamerationes has been confirmed, as they were necessary to guarantee appropriate indoor thermal sensations and to prevent burns by touching the heated surfaces. These outcomes may constitute a useful support for better understanding the operation of other similar Roman thermal complexes.
In Italy, over 75% of the building stock is not only highly energy-consuming,
but also earthquake... more In Italy, over 75% of the building stock is not only highly energy-consuming,
but also earthquake-prone. Hence, energy renovation actions should be
combined with seismic retrofitting. However, a number of barriers (economic, organizational, technical, cultural, legislative, etc.) considerably limit the real possibility to extensively undertake combined retrofit actions, especially for multi-owner and high-rise housing. Since the economic barrier often represents the main leverage to undertake renovation actions, this paper aims at determining the average price and the payback time (PBT) of seismic and energy retrofitting of apartment blocks. To this purpose, we have selected as case study a group of six edifices located in Catania and representative of the residential stock built in southern Italy in the period of greatest urban expansion (1950-1980). The average cost has been defined considering different retrofit interventions, according to the specific features and requirements of each building. Results have shown an average unit cost as high as 440 €/m2 and – thanks to the current fiscal incentives and the reduced energy bill – a PBT of about 11 years that represents a promising value, also to get bank loans.
Roman baths represent an interesting slice of the ancient culture and an emblematic step in the p... more Roman baths represent an interesting slice of the ancient culture and an emblematic step in the process of civilization. Their heating system is a meaningful example of the outstanding level of technological progress achieved by the Romans in the art of building.
However, while their mode of operation is sufficiently known, there is uncertainty regarding temperatures and relative humidity (RH) maintained in the heated rooms, thermal level and expulsion process of hot flue gases, presence of window glazing and concamerationes.
In order to overcome such uncertainty, a multidisciplinary approach – based on in situ analyses, topographic and 3D laser scanning surveys and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations – has been developed by studying the main features of the “Indirizzo” Baths of Catania (Sicily), which represent one of the best-preserved hypocausted thermal buildings anywhere in the Roman Empire.
Results show that temperatures in the caldarium ranged between 30 and 35 °C, with a RH of around 60÷70%, while the thermal level of hot gases inside the hypocaust fluctuated from about 90 to 125 °C, in function of the outdoor climate. Moreover, the original presence of windowpanes and concamerationes has been confirmed, as they were necessary to guarantee appropriate indoor thermal sensations and to prevent burns by touching the heated surfaces.
These outcomes may constitute a useful support for better understanding the operation of other similar Roman thermal complexes.
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Papers by Walter Pettinato
but also earthquake-prone. Hence, energy renovation actions should be
combined with seismic retrofitting. However, a number of barriers (economic, organizational, technical, cultural, legislative, etc.) considerably limit the real possibility to extensively undertake combined retrofit actions, especially for multi-owner and high-rise housing. Since the economic barrier often represents the main leverage to undertake renovation actions, this paper aims at determining the average price and the payback time (PBT) of seismic and energy retrofitting of apartment blocks. To this purpose, we have selected as case study a group of six edifices located in Catania and representative of the residential stock built in southern Italy in the period of greatest urban expansion (1950-1980). The average cost has been defined considering different retrofit interventions, according to the specific features and requirements of each building. Results have shown an average unit cost as high as 440 €/m2 and – thanks to the current fiscal incentives and the reduced energy bill – a PBT of about 11 years that represents a promising value, also to get bank loans.
However, while their mode of operation is sufficiently known, there is uncertainty regarding temperatures and relative humidity (RH) maintained in the heated rooms, thermal level and expulsion process of hot flue gases, presence of window glazing and concamerationes.
In order to overcome such uncertainty, a multidisciplinary approach – based on in situ analyses, topographic and 3D laser scanning surveys and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations – has been developed by studying the main features of the “Indirizzo” Baths of Catania (Sicily), which represent one of the best-preserved hypocausted thermal buildings anywhere in the Roman Empire.
Results show that temperatures in the caldarium ranged between 30 and 35 °C, with a RH of around 60÷70%, while the thermal level of hot gases inside the hypocaust fluctuated from about 90 to 125 °C, in function of the outdoor climate. Moreover, the original presence of windowpanes and concamerationes has been confirmed, as they were necessary to guarantee appropriate indoor thermal sensations and to prevent burns by touching the heated surfaces.
These outcomes may constitute a useful support for better understanding the operation of other similar Roman thermal complexes.
but also earthquake-prone. Hence, energy renovation actions should be
combined with seismic retrofitting. However, a number of barriers (economic, organizational, technical, cultural, legislative, etc.) considerably limit the real possibility to extensively undertake combined retrofit actions, especially for multi-owner and high-rise housing. Since the economic barrier often represents the main leverage to undertake renovation actions, this paper aims at determining the average price and the payback time (PBT) of seismic and energy retrofitting of apartment blocks. To this purpose, we have selected as case study a group of six edifices located in Catania and representative of the residential stock built in southern Italy in the period of greatest urban expansion (1950-1980). The average cost has been defined considering different retrofit interventions, according to the specific features and requirements of each building. Results have shown an average unit cost as high as 440 €/m2 and – thanks to the current fiscal incentives and the reduced energy bill – a PBT of about 11 years that represents a promising value, also to get bank loans.
However, while their mode of operation is sufficiently known, there is uncertainty regarding temperatures and relative humidity (RH) maintained in the heated rooms, thermal level and expulsion process of hot flue gases, presence of window glazing and concamerationes.
In order to overcome such uncertainty, a multidisciplinary approach – based on in situ analyses, topographic and 3D laser scanning surveys and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations – has been developed by studying the main features of the “Indirizzo” Baths of Catania (Sicily), which represent one of the best-preserved hypocausted thermal buildings anywhere in the Roman Empire.
Results show that temperatures in the caldarium ranged between 30 and 35 °C, with a RH of around 60÷70%, while the thermal level of hot gases inside the hypocaust fluctuated from about 90 to 125 °C, in function of the outdoor climate. Moreover, the original presence of windowpanes and concamerationes has been confirmed, as they were necessary to guarantee appropriate indoor thermal sensations and to prevent burns by touching the heated surfaces.
These outcomes may constitute a useful support for better understanding the operation of other similar Roman thermal complexes.