SOSTENIBILITA' ENERGETICA E AMBIENTALE DELL COSTRUZIONI

Academic Year 2024/2025 - Teacher: FRANCESCO NOCERA

Expected Learning Outcomes

The course aims to provide students with the technical-scientific foundations necessary for the sustainable design of constructions, with a particular focus on the use of materials throughout their entire life cycle, following the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) approach. Starting from the principles of Life Cycle Thinking, students will acquire advanced skills in the analysis and evaluation of the environmental impact generated by the use of construction materials during production, use, and disposal phases. Additionally, the course will cover regulatory and legislative aspects related to energy and the environment, ecological quality labels, possibilities for recovery and reuse of residual materials, the characterization of eco-friendly materials, and the multi-criteria and analytical tools available today for assessing the environmental quality of products and constructions.

Course Structure

The course will be delivered through lectures and practical exercises on the topics outlined in the program. The lectures will be supplemented by discussions and in-depth analyses to ensure a critical understanding of the topics covered.

Required Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of Mathematics, Physics, Environmental Technical Physics, and energy-environmental balances is required.

Attendance of Lessons

Regular attendance is strongly recommended, as continuous participation in lectures optimizes the learning process. The guidance and support of the instructor are essential to fully grasp and enrich the recommended study materials.

Detailed Course Content

The course is structured around the following topics, aimed at understanding and evaluating the energy and environmental sustainability of construction:

Principles of environmental sustainability
Raw materials, secondary materials, and production processes of construction materials
Pollutant emissions from technological processes and their environmental impacts
Environmental impact assessment indices
Environmental profiles of key construction materials and products
Low environmental impact construction materials: characteristics and applications
Certification and ecological quality labels for construction materials and products
Principles and techniques of environmental analysis of materials: from Embodied Energy to LCA
Methodological phases of LCA
International protocols for multi-criteria assessment of the environmental quality of buildings (focus on ITACA and LEED protocols)
EU Directives, National Legislation, and Technical Standards on the sustainability of construction
Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM) and Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Examples of LCA assessment of construction materials and products
Practical exercise: environmental analysis of a construction product chosen by the student

The course contributes significantly to the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, promoted by the United Nations, focusing primarily on various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Here are the main contributions:

SDG 4 - Quality Education: By providing a university education focused on environmental sustainability and construction, the course promotes the acquisition of essential skills for the sustainable design and management of the built environment. This educational approach increases awareness and expertise in energy and environmental fields.
SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: By deepening the knowledge of low-impact construction materials and sustainable production practices, the course promotes innovation in the construction industry. The introduction to protocols like ITACA and LEED prepares students to design and build sustainable and resilient infrastructures.
SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities: Focusing on the environmental sustainability of buildings and the assessment of their environmental quality, the course provides the foundation for designing buildings and urban infrastructures that contribute to creating more sustainable, inclusive, and safe cities.
SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production: By analyzing the life cycle of materials (LCA), production processes, and the environmental impact of construction materials, the course promotes sustainable consumption and production practices. Students learn how to select low-impact materials and develop construction strategies that reduce resource use and pollutant emissions.
SDG 13 - Climate Action: The course, focusing on reducing pollutant emissions from technological processes and the selection of sustainable materials, aims to provide solutions to mitigate the impact of construction on climate change. LCA assessment and attention to international standards and protocols support a more conscious and strategic approach to reducing the ecological footprint of the building sector.
SDG 15 - Life on Land: The analysis of the life cycle of materials, pollutant emissions, and environmental impact contributes to understanding how construction affects terrestrial ecosystems. Through the study of low-impact construction materials and compliance with minimum environmental criteria, the course promotes the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial resources.

Textbook Information

M. Lavagna, Life Cycle Assessment in edilizia. Progettare e costruire in una prospettiva di sostenibilità ambientale. Hoepli, Milano, 2012.

M. Cellura, Life Cycle Assessment applicata all’edificio. Metodologia e casi di studio sul sistema fabbricato-impianto. Editoriale Delfino Collana AICARR, Milano, 2017.

F. Asdrubali, G. Beccali, M. Cellura, F. Cumo, U. Di Matteo, F. Gugliermetti, L’analisi di ciclo di vita degli edifici. Celid, Torino, 2012.

I. Orberti, Prodotti edilizi per edifici ecocompatibili. Uno strumento per orientare la scelta. Maggioli Editore, Santarcangelo di Romagna, 2014.

G.L. Baldo, M. Marino, S. Rossi, Analisi del ciclo di vita LCA. Edizioni Ambiente, Città di Castello, 2008.

L. De Santoli, Analisi del ciclo di vita del sistema edificio-impianto. Palombi Editori, Roma, 2006.

Dispense fornite dal docente.

Course Planning

	Subjects	Text References
1	Introduction to the principles of environmental sustainability
2	Environmental aspects of construction materials	UNI EN ISO 14025 Standard Calculating MIPS Manual
3	Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM)
4	Environmental quality assessment protocols for construction
5	LCA methodology applied to the construction sector	UNI EN ISO 14040 Standard UNI EN ISO 14044 Standard
6	Application cases of LCA analysis	R.H. Crawford, Lyfe cycle assessment in the built environment. Routledge, Londra, 2011 – pp. 115-122, 138-148
7	Practical exercise: environmental analysis of a construction product

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Learning will be assessed through an individual oral examination on the topics covered during the lectures and the environmental analysis of a construction product chosen by the student as part of the practical exercise.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

What are the pollutants produced by the manufacturing processes of construction materials, and what are their environmental impacts?

Describe the characteristics of low environmental impact construction materials.

What are the eco-sustainable disposal techniques for residual materials?

Explain the significance and importance of ecological quality labels for construction materials and products.

Outline the environmental quality assessment protocols for buildings (BREEAM, LEED, ITACA).

Describe the methodological phases of LCA.

Degree Course in

Structural and Geotechnical Civil Engineering