Strategies for energy retrofitting of historic urban districts

The paper is going to discuss and validate a methodological framework for the integrated and coordinated retrofitting of historic urban districts, between conservation of their unique typological and architectural features and improvement of their environmental and energy performances. In detail, from the investigation of environmental and morphological characteristics of the whole district, energy grids and consumptions of the subdistricts and construction materials and techniques of the buildings, a set of 'minimum units of energy intervention' (MUEI) is identified, where common opportunity/necessity of transformation might be assessed and common strategies and solutions should be pursued. The resulting 'energy zoning', validated for a representative case study, is a decision-making support tool for all the stakeholders of the retrofitting process of historic urban districts. It should help select compatible and efficient measures, address informed maintenance and management programs and guarantee the overall safeguard and enhancement of the built heritage.