ZEMCH 2015 - International Conference Proceedings | Page 704

The buildings constructed under the social housing programs from post-World War II up to the
1980s has today in Italy, as in the rest of Europe, become a widespread phenomenon of a loss
in efficiency and functionality resulting from a marked physical and technological deterioration.
Problems related to any possible redevelopment of these properties are extremely complicated and quite delicate as a series of different and, at times, contrasting factors come into play.
On the other hand, projects on these buildings have appeared for some time to be one of the
main means to achieve an actual reduction in energy consumption, to the extent that, already in
2002, the European Directive 2002/91/EC promoted the improvement of “the energy performance
of buildings within the Community, taking into account outdoor climatic and local conditions, as well
as the indoor climate requirements and cost-effectiveness”.
This focus was due to, among other factors, the fact that the energy used in the services and
residential sectors was estimated to be about 40% of the total energy consumption of the entire
Community and, consequently, the carbon dioxide emissions were also very high.
An undoubtedly interesting sector concerning energy consumption efficiency is obviously that
of social housing because of the number of dwellings and the building, urbanistic, social and
economic features involved.

Figure 1: The Vigne Nuove complex in 70’s (taken from L’Unità newspaper)

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ZEMCH 2015 | International Conference | Bari - Lecce, Italy