Our member SiTI - Higher Institute on Territorial Systems for Innovation, Italian partner of the neZEH- Nearly Zero Energy Hotels, project with NECStouR , has identified the two Italian neZEH pilot cases.

A few weeks ago, the hotel owners signed the agreement with the team of the European project, agreeing to get involved and beginning the process that will lead them to become the first Nearly Zero Energy Hotels in Italy.

In the densely built Italian territories, the highest potential for energy savings lies in existing buildings rather than in new ones. In particular, it is estimated that small‐medium enterprises of the tourism sector are responsible for about 21% of total carbon dioxide emissions in the environment. However, a remedy for this situation would be possible thanks to the currently available technologies, able to
reduce the energy requirements of buildings of more than 80%.

The initiative neZEH, supported by the Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) programme, try to provide answers to the increasing demands of the European Commission on environment and energy, hoping to accelerate the rate of refurbishment of the existing hotels to become nearly Zero Energy Building.
Both buildings were identified by the project team as a result of a multi‐phase selection process based on interviews, meetings, category of buildings, location, commitment to sustainability and (only for some) the energy pre‐audit.

The Residence L'Orologio has been selected not only for its owners' efforts towards these issues, but also because it could be representative of a good share of tourist‐hotel in the city centre. The Hotel Royal Terme di Valdieri, has instead immediately impressed the Italian neZEH team thanks to the availability of water from thermal source currently used for heating, hot water and electricity (thanks to a small hydroelectric power plant installed in situ); maybe exclusive features, but which allow to share the experience of a hotel that will be soon completely autonomous.

The structures will benefit of an energy audit and an economic feasibility study, entirely financed by the European project, that will allow identifying which energy efficiency measures are most recommended for the best performance in both energy and economic terms.

Info:
Daniela Gonella ‐ SiTI Press Office
daniela.gonella@siti.polito.it‐ Tel: 01119751526
Sara Levi Sacedotti‐ Regional leader
levi@siti.polito.it‐ Tel. 01119751545
 

Link:
www.nezeh.eu,
www.siti.polito.it