Towards nearly Zero Energy. Urban settings in the Mediterranean Climate

With the energy use in buildings accounting for over 40% of primary energy use and 24% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, the effective reduction of energy consumption towards zero energy is and remains an unavoidable objective. Towards Nearly Zero Energy looks at the life of the systems of energy production from renewable sources amidst the exceptionally challenging global economic crisis that the Mediterranean areas and societies are currently experiencing. By using an innovative and interdisciplinary approach of socio-oriented technological design, this book indicates tools and measures to be developed at public, legislative and market level to counterbalance the large pay-back times of energy efficiency measures. In particular, the book displays guidelines and best practices to activate new forms of incentives towards the energy renovation uptake.