Solar heating and air-conditioning by GSHP coupled to PV system for a cost effective high energy performance building

Energy requirements for new buildings show the strong direction given by UE Directives to improve energy performance in buildings according to economic feasibility. Nowadays it is possibile to construct new buildings reaching a substancial reduction in energy consumption containing prices and time for the construction. In architectural competitions are always included architectural, energy and economic parameters of quality which are decisive in the success of the project design. A Housing Contest to collect projects with high performance and low cost for residential buildings for the Municipality of Comune di Milano, Italy, and the future construtions in the local area was launched by the to involve architects and professionals on the future development of the urban landscape giving specific requirements to achieve high performance. These requirements were focused on energy quality, acoustic quality, quality of the building site, guaranteed time schedule, prefabrication, economic affordability in comparison with the market trend of costs. The project presented in the paper is one of the chosen building by the Municipality to represent a pilot project for possible future constructions. In the Contest all the design group were in team with a builder to verify and guarantee the costs of the construction. The high energy performance required coupled to the low cost assured by the projects gave the Municipality a good example of how is possible to fulfill quality levels recommended by EU Directives and national regulations. In the Contest a high energy performance for heating was compulsory. The project described in the following paragraphs not only fulfill this energy requirement but also is almost self-sufficiency since it provides the energy for heating, cooling and common electrical demand. (C) 2012 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.