Italian community turns old building into energy-efficient crèche

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The project aimed to refurbish and expand an existing building to create a new crèche using construction techniques with low environmental impact and energy consumption.Monica Zucchelli, Head of the Public Works and Environment, Office of the Municipality of DròAs buildings are responsible for a remarkable 30 % of all energy consumption, outdated, inefficient buildings represent a significant roadblock to Europe meeting its 2020 Climate Goals. To help, communities across Europe are renovating old homes and buildings, converting them into efficient showcases of sustainability.One of these communities is Drò. The building they chose for their new crèche is located in the city centre.Construction vs renovationNew construction projects not only require a lot of raw materials, but the machines and tools used to build the new structure often emit substantial levels of CO2. Multiply this by the many months a typical construction project takes and it’s easy to see why new projects have a high carbon footprint. Thus, even if the resulting building represents the state-of-the-art in sustainability, the carbon deficit accumulated during its construction is so deep it can take decades to dig out of.On the other hand, renovating an existing building requires little in terms of raw materials and machinery. The renovation of the crèche in Drò required minimal effort. The work included adding an external wall insulation system, demolishing unneeded structures such as external gutters, adding a photovoltaic plant to the roof, integrating a solar thermal system throughout the building, and extending a kindergarten classroom. The renovation used renewable materials, such as wood, to naturally cool the building.The gold standardThe project was completed within two years. Unlike a new construction project that must overcome its carbon deficit, Drò achieved an immediate carbon reduction from day one. The building produces CO2 emissions of just 4.55 kg/m2 per annum, which represents a 35 % reduction in the building’s performance compared to its previous state. The estimated annual electricity consumption is 38.572 kWh, 63 % of which is derived from renewable sources.As a result of these energy-saving achievements, the building has been gold certified by the green building rating system, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.Most importantly, the local children were given a new, centrally located building boasting increased lighting and liveability. Had a new building been constructed, it would have most likely been located outside the city centre, requiring families to travel some distance to get to the crèche. This, in turn, would have led to more CO2 being released into the air. Instead, as the renovated building is in the city centre, many families and children can walk to and from the crèche.Total investment and EU fundingTotal investment for the project “Refurbishment and extension of the maternal school in Drò” is EUR 1 367 956, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 328 309 through the “Autonomous Province of Trento” Operational Programme for the 2007-2013 programming period.