Patricia Ferro

Via Portoferraio, 22 — 00182 Roma — criferro@tiscali. it

1. Introduction

Yearly energy consumption (heating, hot water and electricity) for Italian residential buildings averages from 150 in south and central Italy to 200 kWh/m2 in north Italy1. This paper describes a house designed with the whole building approach whose estimated energy consumption (heating, hot water and electricity) is estimated less than 70 kWh/m2 year.

The house will be built in central Italy (Casaprota, Rieti Province, 450 meters a. s.l., 42° 24’ N — 12° 52’ E ), a typical Italian Mediterranean hilly landscape.

The paper focuses on some of the design results, in particular those regarding daylighting, space heating and electricity demand, whose production will be 100% from renewable energy (solar and biomass).

To achieve these results, special attention has been given during the design to the siting, the house lay out, the local renewable energy resources available, the local architecture and the construction traditions.

Lazio Regional Government awarded the design of this house within the "Zero Emission residential buildings" competition. The award includes a funding support for the house construction.