• Energy Research
• 12. Responsible consumption close
• 6. Clean water close
• 14. Life underwater close
• IT close
• Polytechnic University of Turin close

The decentralization of the production sector crisis following industries in the suburbs have generated a multitude of empty containers in the medium-large Italian cities, which are abandoned, unsafe, and often dangerous for the community. From this arises the need to recover them and transform them into something else. This is not always possible or interesting for the subjects involved in the transformation. When the abandoned space is (even if only partially) polluted, then any hypothesis of transformation is stopped due to the high impact of decontamination costs, which greatly compromise the profitability of the investment. This paper deals with this issue focusing on a complex case study involving the abandoned area and the buildings of a former paint mill in the center of a typical city in the Turin metropolitan area. The suggested hypothesis is to act only on building components and external areas without any ground modification because of its contamination. Moreover, the new planned use (energy production from renewable sources to supply part of the public administration’s needs) does not foresee neither a stable presence of people nor a further consumption of land. The technical analysis of community energy needs and the subsequent economic and financial study lead to a financial sustainability over a period of about 25 years.

This work presents a project of hi-tech and supergreen ‘nZEB casale’ in Italy. The ‘nZEB casale’ is located in Matera, in the south of Italy. The project concerns the renovation of a medieval ‘casale’, a group of rural houses for residential use. The shape of the new nZEB is in the style of old light-colored buildings, compact and with projections and shielding elements to reduce the summer thermal loads. The use of local and certified materials for the construction of buildings has resulted in a low environmental impact of buildings and an excellent winter and summer energy performance reaching the best energy class A4. Finally, this work presents an environmental protocol to be applied to nZEBs in order to take into account the other benefits of these constructions, as well as the energy benefits.

The development of new methods for the correct disposal of waste is unavoidable for any city that aims to become eco-friendly. Waste management is no exception. In the modern era, the treatment and disposal of infectious waste should be seen as an opportunity to generate renewable energy, resource efficiency, and, above all, to improve the population’s quality of life. Northern Italy currently produces 66,600 tons/year of infectious waste, mostly treated through incineration plants. This research aims to explore a more ecological and sustainable solution, thereby contributing one more step toward achieving better cities for all. Particularly, this paper presents a conceptual design of the main sterilization chamber for infectious waste. The methodology selected was Design Thinking (DT), since it has a user-centered approach which allows for co-design and the inclusion of the target population. This study demonstrates to the possibility of obtaining feasible results based on the user’s needs through the application of DT as a framework for engineering design.

Abstract Driven by urbanization growth, in recent years, the relationships among energy systems and underground space are becoming more and more intense for many reasons: the severe competition in the land use, the security of energy commodities management, the need of huge infrastructures for mass and energy transportation (e.g. pipelines), the safety requirements against seismic events and eventually, economic and environmental considerations. For such reasons, nowadays underground space is becoming an extremely important as an alternative for urban areas expansion, if properly planned. In fact, a correct underground space planning strategy, together with the progressive developments of suitable integrated connections between surface and subsurface can increase the livability of cities and improve public health. Population in urban areas is expected to grow, in particular in developing economies (such as China); this phenomenon leads to an increasing pressure on urban areas to supply the growing energy needs. In fact, several end-use services should be fulfilled to provide indoor comfort in buildings, for mobility of people and goods, etc. Anyway, only a very limited amount of energy can be generated inside urban areas (from municipal solid wastes, from thermal/solar PV and heat pumps installations); as a consequence, the majority of the energy commodities are produced, converted and stored in power plants located far from cities and require huge transport infrastructures. In this paper, the cost/benefit relationship between underground and energy use is explained by reviewing main application of existing underground space utilizations for energy processes (distribution, storage and generation), as well as other innovative opportunities. From the analysis of past experiences analysis, the main conclusion is that a rational approach in urban energy planning procedures, integrating both over- and below-ground space utilizations, could help to raise the quality of energy services and it is fundamental for reaching a smarter and more resilient society. In such a new Underground Urbanism approach, the need for long-term Integrated Master Plans that propose suitable Guidelines is highlighted.

Today 54 % of the world's population resides in urban areas and in 2050 the projections are for 66 %. Therefore, the issue of city sustainability becomes increasingly important. This paper analyzes city energy sustainability with consideration to the complex built environment, high population densities, anthropogenic activities, energy demands, environmental impacts, as well as limits on both space availability and renewable energy sources. The evaluation considers models of thermal energy consumption for both residential and non-residential buildings based on a GIS tool. The thermal energy-use models consider established statistical methods as well as the introduction of energy-dependent urban-scale variables.

Built heritage resources (BHRs) are multidimensional assets that need to be conceived under a sustainability and circular economy framework. Whereas it is essential that their conservation, management, and enjoyment are sustainable, it is also necessary that the environmental, cultural, and socio-economic contexts in which they are integrated are sustainable too. Like other amenities, BHRs can improve the quality of the urban environment and generate externalities; additionally, they may influence sectors such as real estate, hospitality, and tourism. In this framework, this contribution aims to identify spatial relationships occurring between BHRs and short-term rentals (STRs), i.e., a recent economic phenomenon facilitated by platforms such as Airbnb. Through the application of Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis techniques and taking Turin (Italy) as a case study, this article provides evidence that spatial correlation patterns between BHRs and STRs exist, and that the areas most affected by STRs are the residential neighborhoods located in the proximity of the historic center of the city. Relations with other sets of socio-economic variables are highlighted too, and conclusions suggest that future studies are essential not only to monitor sustainability issues and reflect on new housing models and sustainable uses of buildings, but also to understand the evolution of the phenomenon in light of the pandemic Covid-19.

Abstract The feasibility of reusing waste materials as an inexpensive sorbent to remove volatile organic compounds from gaseous waste streams has been demonstrated. Ashes from wood-chips were tested as sorbent materials for VOCs removal with a PTR-ToF-MS instrument. Both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and BET analysis were used to identify the structural characteristics, elemental composition and surface area of the tested ashes respectively. Most of the tentatively identified compounds were less strongly adsorbed by wet ash: thiols, siloxanes, carbonyl compounds and terpenes. Hydrogen sulfide and alcohols show improving removal performance in wet conditions. These results are related to the water solubility properties. Siloxanes were tentatively identified and monitored with PTR-ToF-MS. This demonstrates how this instrument is a suitable tool for simultaneously providing a multitude of analysis for rapid in situ monitoring of fuel contaminants. Considering the low cost, and the recycling of environmental pollutants, wood ashes are a possible choice for VOCs removal from biogas.