Design criteria and technological solutions for energy savings. The influence of potential barriers in achieving the success of interventions.

During the last decades the general belief in the building sector was that the progress of technology would enable it to meet all the new arising challenges. However it did not consider the growing demand in terms of energy and resources and its related impacts on the environment. The issue of energy saving has recently led to relevant changes in perception going beyond technology, according to a more conscious approach based on a balance between the results achievable through adequate technological solutions and the required investments (energy, materials, etc.). By going beyond technology, it is meant first of all increasing the effectiveness of the measures and solutions adopted and reducing non-technical and contextual barriers. This paper points out a number of potential barriers, such as insufficient or not so restricting regulations, a lack of incentives or subsidized funds, implications related to final users behavior, etc. that influence the success of any interventions. This study is based on the experience acquired by the Research Unit of the Department of Architecture of the University of Bologna in the field of renovation and retrofitting actions at building and urban level, during several research programs and activities. The final objective of these activities was to outline suitable design criteria and suggest strategies and synergies for overcoming existing barriers.