Alexandra Troi

• PhD
• Vice head of Department at Eurac Research

This study investigates the social acceptance of integrated photovoltaic (IPV) systems in heritage and landscape contexts, focusing on Italian stakeholders in the construction sector. As part of the “BIPV meets History” research project, this study aims to identify barriers, potentials, drivers, and challenges for widespread PV technology adoption,...

This study presents an in-depth analysis of 69 case studies focusing on the energy retrofit of historic buildings, uncovering challenges, best practices, and lessons learned to balance energy efficiency improvements with heritage preservation. The findings highlight several challenges encountered during renovations, such as complex heritage evaluat...

The abandonment and deterioration of historic rural buildings in Europe raise significant issues, including hydrogeological risks, the loss of productive land, and cultural heritage decline. Despite being underestimated, these structures hold significant potential for cultural and productive activities. Renovating these structures is crucial for lo...

The challenge of transforming historic buildings and city centers into energy-self-sufficient environments requires innovative solutions. The research project “BiPV meets History” addressed this challenge by providing comprehensive guidelines for assessing the integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems in protected historic architectural contexts. To...

This data collection presents a comprehensive five-year monitoring record from a historic building located in Settequerce, South Tyrol (Italy). The 17th-century building, characterized by a stone masonry, was subject to a retrofit in 2017 that introduced a wood fiber insulation panel to the inner side of the building's walls. As part of the renovat...

Humidity, salt content, and migration in building materials lead to weathering and are a common challenge. To understand damage phenomena and select the right conservation treatments, knowledge on both the amount and distribution of moisture and salt load in the masonry is crucial. It was shown that commercial portable devices addressing moisture a...

Humidity, salt content, and migration in building materials lead to weathering and are a common challenge. To understand damage phenomena and select the right conservation treatments, knowledge on both the amount and distribution of moisture and salt load in the masonry is crucial. It was shown that commercial portable devices addressing moisture a...

Retrofitting the heritage buildings (listed or not) is a complex task due to legal, financial and technical barriers. The decision makers often lack a holistic view about the condition of the existing building stock in their jurisdiction, possible renovation options and the impact of the renovation actions on the overall sustainability performance...

Arguing that ‘the moment of the now’ calls for fresh, creative thinking in the search for solutions, this White Paper both explores the state of research at the intersection between culture, heritage and climate change, and makes a case for a set of approaches, perspectives and conversations that we need to have—or that we need to have in new ways....

Thermal modeling of building components plays a crucial role in designing energy efficiency measures, assessing living comfort, and preventing building damages. The accuracy of the modeling process strongly depends on the reliability of the physical models and the correct selection of input parameters, especially for historic buildings where uncert...

Energy retrofits can enhance the liveability and efficiency of historic buildings while preserving their historic and aesthetic values. However, measures like improved insulation and airtightness may increase their vulnerability to overheating and climate change may further worsen their performance in the future. This paper investigates indoor over...

The application of interior insulation systems consistently increases energy performance of historic buildings, but also severely affects the drying potential of their envelopes reducing the evaporation potential towards the internal side. This reduction is even more critical in façades interested by a significant amount of driving rain. To face th...

Hygrothermal simulations are expected to provide powerful support to the design process in the context of energy retrofit of historic buildings and prevent the moisture-related damages. They can be used to predict the hygrothermal behaviour of the building in detail and exclude the occurrence of moisture related damages, such as mould formation or...

Historic building restoration and renovation requires sensitivity to the cultural heritage, historic value, and sustainability (i.e., building physics, energy efficiency, and comfort) goals of the project. Energy-efficient ventilation such as demand-controlled ventilation and heat recovery ventilation can contribute to the aforementioned goals, if...

The hygrothermal analysis of historical building envelopes is an important part of renovation concepts for existing buildings. Using dynamic hygrothermal simulation is an effective approach to predict moisture-related damage, such as the risk of mold infestation or susceptibility to frost damage. However, modeling a historic wall of brick / stone a...

Historic buildings account for more than one-quarter of Europe’s existing building stock and are going to be crucial in the achievement of future energy targets. Although a drastic reduction in carbon emissions would slow climate change, an alteration in the climate is already certain. Therefore, the impact of climate change on retrofitted historic...

The hygrothermal behaviour of an internally insulated historic wall is still hard to predict, mainly because the physical characteristics of the materials composing the historic wall are unknown. In this study, the hygrothermal assessment of an internally thermal insulated masonry wall of an historic palace located in Ferrara, in Italy, is shown. I...

It is well known that the application of interior insulation systems increases consistently the energy performance of historic buildings, but severely affects the drying potential of their envelopes, by reducing the evaporation potential towards the internal side. Several strategies have been implemented to face this side effect: among the others,...

Climate change will affect future hygrothermal performance of buildings. This could lead to higher risks regarding energy optimization, thermal comfort and historic building conservation depending on the local climate, building construction and retrofit solutions adopted. This paper explores the risks brought by climate change on a typical resident...

Climate change imposes great challenges on the built heritage sector by increasing the risks of energy inefficiency, indoor overheating, and moisture-related damage to the envelope. Therefore, it is urgent to assess these risks and plan adaptation strategies for historic buildings. These activities must be based on a strong knowledge of the main bu...

Climate change will affect future hygrothermal performance of buildings. This could lead to higher risks regarding energy optimization, thermal comfort and historic building conservation depending on the local climate, building construction and retrofit solutions adopted. This paper explores the risks brought by climate change on a typical resident...

Purpose Improving the energy performance of historic buildings has the potential to reduce carbon emissions while protecting built heritage through its continued use. However, implementing energy retrofits in these buildings faces social, economic, and technical barriers. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to present the approach of IEA-SHC Ta...

Historic buildings are defining elements of city centres but also responsible for a large share of greenhouse gas emissions. In order to reduce their energy demand, it is important to improve envelopes’ thermal transmittance without damaging the historic integrity of their façades by applying interior insulation. Thus, a detailed planning is needed...

A new master’s degree commenced in 2017 at the University of Bamberg. The purpose of the M.Sc. Digital Technologies in Heritage Conservation is to impart theoretical and practical knowledge and develop competence in critical assessment and object-oriented solutions. The aims, curriculum and methods of teaching will be discussed in this paper.

A new master’s degree commenced in 2017 at the University of Bamberg. The purpose of the M.Sc. Digital Technologies in Heritage Conservation is to impart theoretical and practical knowledge and develop competence in critical assessment and object-oriented solutions. The aims, curriculum and methods of teaching will be discussed in this paper.

What Americas Cup and a heritage building have in common They both aim at innovative technologies and cutting-edge solutions. The owner of the project, an ex-crew member of the most famous sailing match race in the world, pushed the planning team to develop extraordinary solutions for his house. The house, Villa Castelli, is an historical listed bu...

A new master's degree commenced in 2017 at the University of Bamberg. The purpose of the M.Sc. Digital Technologies in Heritage Conservation is to impart theoretical and practical knowledge and develop competence in critical assessment and object-oriented solutions. The aims, curriculum and methods of teaching will be discussed in this paper.

Historic buildings account for more than one quarter of Europe’s existing building stock and are going to be crucial in the achievement of future energy targets. In order to ensure their endurance, conservation compatible solutions are needed. Nevertheless, some alteration in the climate is already certain and therefore the impact of climate change...

Hygrothermal analysis of historical building envelopes is crucial in ensuring their durability and enhancing their performances. The use of hygrothermal dynamic simulation is the most effective approach to predict moisture related damages or risk of mould growth on ancient masonry envelopes. However, simulating the hygrothermal behaviour of a histo...

Research and development of high thermal insulation materials for the construction sector requires an accurate characterization of the wall's performance, since that is the main causes of thermal exchanges between the internal and external boundaries. This paper presents a test procedure developed within the EU Project EFFESUS for evaluating the st...

To achieve the EU energy-saving targets, renovation of existing buildings requires particular attention. In total, historic buildings amount to one fourth of Europe’s building stock. Also, in the Province of Bolzano (Northern Italy), 30% of the building stock was built before the end of World War II—in some municipalities even around 60%. Therefore...

Two infrared reflective coatings recently developed as part of the EFFESUS European research project are characterized and evaluated in this paper. Thermal performance, durability, compatibility with historic fabric, and reversibility are all analysed. The results of extensive research that include laboratory analysis of selected substrates, measur...

Die am Comer See gelegene Villa Castelli ist seit ungefähr 140 Jahren im Besitz der Bauherrenfamilie. Um das Gebäude besser nutzen zu können, sollte es grundlegend energetisch saniert werden, ohne seinen historischen Charme zu verlieren. Entscheidend für den Bauherren war dabei neben der zu erreichenden Wohnqualität auch die langfristige Nachhaltig...

The Directive 2010/31 UE (EBPD) introduced the “Nearly Zero Energy Buildings” linked to cost optimality, where energy benefits are related to economic benefits. The “Cost Optimality” methodology is applicable both to new and existing buildings, as introduced in the Regulation 244/2012. This methodology was largely applied to existing building, but...

The research has been conducted in the European Research Project " Energy efficiency of EU historic district sustainability " (EFFESUS), which aims at developing solutions and tools for improving the energy efficiency of historic buildings and districts, respecting their heritage value. The paper aims at assessing the thermal performance and the co...

The Directive 2010/31 UE (EBPD) introduces the Nearly Zero Energy Buildings linked to cost optimality, where energy benefits are closely linked to economic benefits. This methodology is applicable both to new and existing buildings, but although it has been largely applied to existing buildings, there are only few examples on historic buildings. Co...

Research and development of cost-effective, high-performance thermal insulation materials for the construction sector has to be focused on their final application. In particular, solutions for refurbishing historic buildings, which represent 40% of the European building stock, have to offer a good compromise between environmental quality, energy ef...

The Directive 2010/31 UE (EBPD) introduces the " Nearly Zero Energy Buildings " linked to cost optimality, where energy benefits are related to economic benefits. The " Cost Optimality " methodology is applicable both to new and existing buildings, as introduced in the Regulation 244/2012. This methodology has been largely applied to existing build...

When deciding on the best historic building retrofit, energy savings and thermal comfort can be quantitatively evaluated using an energy model, whereas conservation compatibility is intrinsically qualitative and reflects the perspective of the local heritage authority. We present a methodology that permits finding and comparing optimal retrofits fo...

This handbook holistically summarizes the principles of energy retrofitting historic buildings, from the first diagnosis to the adequately designed intervention: preservation of the historic structure, user comfort, and energy efficiency. The content was developed by an interdisciplinary team of researchers. The wide range of different expertise, d...

This handbook holistically summarizes the principles of energy retrofitting historic buildings, from the first diagnosis to the adequately designed intervention: preservation of the historic structure, user comfort, and energy efficiency. The content was developed by an interdisciplinary team of researchers. The wide range of different expertise, d...

Windows are inseparable components of the building envelope. They shape the building from architecture point of view – and in a historic building, this aesthetical value is complemented by the value of perhaps still preserved original material. They provide daylight, fresh air and view to the outside, but are energetically speaking also the weak pa...

Single papers available for download: http://www.3encult.eu/en/ewchp/Papers.html

Auch in einem historischen Gebäude kann der Energiebedarf wesentlich reduziert werden – wenn im interdisziplinären Team die richtigen Lösungen für ebendieses Gebäude gefunden und mit hoher Qualität umgesetzt werden. Dies ist der Leitgedanke im Europäischen Forschungsprojekt 3ENCULT „Efficient Energy for EU Cultural Heritage“. Dabei geht es in 3ENCU...

Through implementation of high quality energy efficiency solutions a remarkable reduction in the energy demand of historic buildings is achievable. Those solutions have to be very specifically targeted and adapted to the particular building case. Impor¬tant basis for this approach is an experienced multi¬disciplinary team which guarantees a failure...

Historic buildings are the trademark of many European cities, towns and villages and are a living symbol of Europe's rich cultural heritage. However, they are also substantial contributors to CO2 emissions [Troi 2011 a] and rising energy bills, and often do not offer the comfort needed – comfort for users and " comfort " for heritage collections. C...

In historic masonry structures - focus of the 7FP European project SMOOHS - the monitoring and effects of environmental agents in walls and of structural problems is being investigated in a joint perspective. Numerical simulations and experimental work aim to correlate the decay effects of moisture and salt transport in masonry, with structural dam...

The FP7-project 3ENCULT demonstrates that reducing the energy demand by Factor 4 to 10 is feasible also in historic buildings respecting their heritage value, if a multidisciplinary approach guarantees high-quality energy-efficiency solutions, targeted and adapted to the specific case. Twenty-two partners, including conservation, technical and urba...

The main aim of the presented work, developed within the FP7 European project SMooHS (Smart Monitoring of Historical Structures), is to investigate the indoor climate of a museum environment in order to predict possible dangerous phenomena and therefore define preventive countermeasures. The mutual influence between fully air-conditioned exhibition...

Examination by Infrared-thermography (IRT) of historic buildings has become an indispensable tool for the investigation of historic masonry structures, their construction details as well as thermal bridges in facades. Four case study examples from different historic periods, climatic regions, and quite different by construction type are presented a...

Is it reasonable to invest -thoughts and money -in the energy refurbishment of historic buildings? This paper quantifies the potential impact in terms of climate protection and enhanced living conditions – looking not only at exemplary listed buildings, but more generally historic "cityscapes". Statistics reveal that 14% of EU-27 building-stock dat...

The FP7-project 3ENCULT bridges the gap between conservation and climate protection, which is not a contradiction at all: historic buildings will only survive if maintained as living space – and energy-efficient retrofit can improve structural protection and "comfort", both for users and heritage collections. Reducing the energy demand by Factor 4...

Heating historic churches means to constantly walk a fine line: whilst visitors should benefit from a certain comfort and costs be limited, damage to the valuable interior decoration should be avoided. How difficult this is illustrate the manifold documented cases of damage and decay ranging - to mention some examples - from blackening of walls to...

RIASSUNTO Negli ultimi anni è stata immessa nel mercato una serie di macchine frigorifere ad assorbimento di piccola taglia (con potenza frigorifera inferiore a 20kW) adatte all'impiego in impianti di condizionamento per abitazioni ed uffici, che fanno uso di collettori solari termici. L'inserimento nel mercato di questa tecnologia incontra signifi...

The new primary school built for the Novale village, in the community of Lajon (South Tyrol / Italy), achieves ambitious energy and environmental efficiency goals. For this, the project complies with the criteria of a “KlimaHaus Gold +”. It became operative in July 2006 and it is the first Passivhaus School in Italy. It won the “Best CasaClima” awa...

Small sorption chillers are available on the market for the installation in solar assisted domestic hot water and space heating plants. Their use in office and residential buildings could potentially lead to a significant mitigation of the primary energy consumption and therefore of the CO2 production for air conditioning. However, the economical s...

The CasaNova-district in the southern part of Bolzano is currently under construction. It will provide public housing for approx. 3000 persons in 950 apartments. For CasaNova the municipality of Bolzano aimed from the beginning of the planning at the realization of a sustainable district regarding the energy performance. The urban concept includes...

In autumn 2007 the European project SolarCombi+ has been started. The aim of this project is to take newly commercially available small scale sorption chillers and identify and promote standardised Solar Combi+ systems for small applications: i.e. combined solar water and space heating and cooling up to a cooling load of 20 kW. A thorough market st...

Based on a validated building model, the performance of one of the first multifamily houses, satisfying the Passivhaus standard South of the Alps and constructed in Bronzolo/Italy, has been determined by means of dynamic simulation. The analysis aimed at whether and how the - in Central and Northern European countries well established and experimen...

For the relocation of the Environmental Department in Bolzano/Italy the three-storey ex-post building was enlarged with two storeys and refurbished with the goal to reduce heating demand from 200 to 7 kWh/m²a. The envelope with small, regular window was refurbished as an ETIC system with 35cm of EPS-insulation. The window reveals were used for an a...

This paper presents a success story in the field of low energy buildings in Europe. In 2002 the Autonomous Province of South Tyrol introduced a energy certification system for buildings. As a result, the share of low energy buildings considerably grew. This paper first describes the Klimahaus Casaclima project itself and the factors for its success...

The paper analyses, how far the passive house concept has been taken up south of the Alps. It is shown that the development in South Tyrol was enhanced by the introduction of the certification programme KlimaHaus/CasaClima, a label with lighthouse function in Italy. To date thirty passive houses have been realized in South Tyrol; interestingly the...

This paper presents the innovative energy system of a listed building in South Tyrol / Italy, which was refurbished to a solar active building. Design values draw a most promising picture, forecasting a reduction of CO2 emissions by 30% and of electricity from the grid by more than 55% compared to a reference scenario without solar collectors, abso...

Contents Part 1. General Aspects Prevention through awareness Choosing a heating system Reversibility of installation The problem of the microclimate o Physical integrity of works of art o Pollutant deposition and blackening of surfaces o Condensation of vapour excess o Biological decay Draughts Thermal Comfort Ventilation Organ conservation Heat...

During the last century new heating systems were installed in most of our churches. However in this period it could be observed that valuable interior decorations, such as wall and ceiling frescoes, altars, windows and organs, suffer from a serious increase in damage and decay. Research showed the connection between indoor climate and degradation....

CFD simulation has become an indispensable tool in the planning of new buildings and HVAC systems: it allows planning energy consumption and costs as well as comfort and safety even for complex new buildings. Up to now this is only little established in the field of cultural heritage intervention. We performed CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) sim...

This paper presents a solar cooling pilot-plant monitoring project that was set up in autumn 2004 at the premises of Ebner Energie Technik in South Tyrol, northern Italy. The Wegracalse15 absorption chiller integrated in a combined solar domestic hot water and space heating system - "combi-system" - meets the increasing demand for small capacity ai...

1 Abstract This study reports on the practical experience in an office building with a HVAC system having solar thermal collectors, cogenerator and absorption chiller as its key components. Design values on energy consumption, energy bills and recorded temperature data were analysed to this end. As the most critical points - resulting in much highe...

With the installation of new heating systems in churches in the course of the last century an increase in damage and decay of valuable interior decoration could be observed. Research has shown the connection between indoor climate and degradation. The present study analyses the effects of different kinds of heating systems on the indoor climate, re...

This paper presents the results of the monitoring activities carried out at EURAC Research, a building office which is energy supplied by a CHCP system including a large solar thermal installation, an absorption chiller and an AHU. Monitored values have resulted well different from the design values. The control strategy has emerged to play a cruci...