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Good Practice Case Study: RESTART - Renewable Energy Strategies and Technology Applications for Regenerating Towns, Italy

Summary

RESTART (Renewable Energy Strategies and Technology Applications for Regenerating Towns) is a targeted demonstration project, promoted by the European Commission and coordinated by RESET (Renewable Energy Strategies for European Towns) in conjunction with A.M. Barcelona, Glasgow, Grand Lyon, Turin, Rotterdam, Copenhagen, Porto and South Dublin.

The demonstration project involved the different players of such complex urban projects: city officers, promoters, professionals, local associations, technology manufactures, experts, realising through this cooperation 8 large scale building programmes in the 8 participating cities. The equivalent of more than 2,500 dwellings and two important research and cultural centres were built or rehabilitated with use of various renewable energy technologies and sustainable design concepts.

Summary of results:

Area Metropolitana de Barcelona - District Heating with biomass in 695 dwellings in Molins de Rei
Glasgow - The Lighthouse of C.R. Mackintosh was rehabilitated and accommodates a major retailer, offices and an Architecture and Design Centre.
Greater Lyon - Solar Habitat, more than 200 renovated dwellings, which use a set of measures to reduce the energy consumption, including passive greenhouses and solar systems
Torino - The Environment Park, a sustainable science and technology park, has become an asset for the city of Torino.
Rotterdam - A new district of 800 low energy dwellings, with emphasis on passive and active solar energy
Copenhagen - Visible balance of resources in the renovation of an 1870-1900 urban block, located in a working residential area.
Porto - Rehabilitation process in the historical centre, associated with an urban rehabilitation programme of more than 300.000 m² of degraded buildings
South Dublin - More than 500 housing units constructed throughout Ireland, with a focus on energy efficiency.

Results

The following are the building demonstration projects co-ordinated within RESTART:

Area Metropolitana Barcelona - Biomass District Heating in Molins de Rei

A biomass district heating supplies space heat and hot water to 695 dwellings (253 public and 442 private) in "La Granja", a new development area of Molins de Rei. The collective centralised system allows the comfort conditions and the individual energy control and billing in each flat. An energy service company, participated by the town of Molins de Rei, is managing the district heating.

dwellings	695
saving (Euro/y)	170.000
techno-investment (Euro)	812.500
extra-cost (Euro/m²)	14,6
maintenance (Euro/y)	77.550
pay-back period (y)	8,8

Glasgow - The Lighthouse of C.R. Mackintosh

The Lighthouse has become Scotland's Centre for Architecture and Design and accommodates a major retailer, offices and an Architecture and Design Centre. The Lighthouse hosts the renewable energy advice centre for the promotion of renewable energies. Natural lighting, active solar systems, photovoltaic modules and passive ventilation and cooling systems are implemented.

saving (kWh/y)	3.432
renewable energy	32%
techno-investment (Euro)	1.028.101

Greater Lyon - Solar Habitat

Greater Lyon has adopted a strategic action plan for the development of Renewable Energies. RESTART has started the implementation of the action plan on the building sector, from social housing. The project concerns 200 dwellings, which use innovative technologies to reduce the energy consumption by 20%. In the future, it is expected that, each year, 20% of residential buildings in the Lyon area will be built according to these technologies.

dwellings	213
saving (Euro/y)	910.000
techno-investment (Euro)	1.001.662
extra-cost (Euro/m²)	6,54

Torino - The Environment Park

The Science and Technology Park for the Environment (Environment Park) has become an asset for the city of Torino. It has represented an opportunity for revitalising a district of 1.000.000 m². The project was created under the concept of environmental sustainability, with extensive use of environmentally friendly materials, renewable energy sources, ventilated facades. The feature: low buildings blending into the greenery of the natural park.

surface (m²)	32.000
saving (Euro/y)	189.420
techno-investment (Euro)	780.242
extra-cost (Euro/m²)	24
maintenance (Euro/y)	73.875
pay-back period (y)	6,7

Rotterdam - A district of 800 low energy dwellings

The project concerns a district of 800 dwellings in the Stoopweg area, in the city of Rotterdam. The emphasis of the district is on energy efficiency and sustainable buildings. A total of 80 dwellings demonstrate an energy efficient system that is 40% below the current national standard and another 40 dwellings will make optimal use of solar energy. The emphasis in the sub-district area (400 dwellings) is on passive and active solar energy.

dwellings	380 high performance
saving (Euro/y)	138.273
techno-investment (Euro)	1.189.426
extra-cost (Euro/m²)	39,6
pay-back period (y)	8,6

Copenhagen -Visible Balance of Resources in Urban Blocks

The urban renewal block is located in a working residential area, built during 1870-1900. The aim of the project was to create a balance in the consumption of resources and the production of waste. It demonstrates how residents could be positively influenced to change their behaviour in the consumption of water, electricity and heat by establishing "green" common construction and reuse of materials. At the start, the settlement consists of 450 inhabitants.

dwellings	303 and 37 shops
saving (Euro/y)	109.905
techno-investment (Euro)	1.025.068
extra-cost (Euro/m²)	34
maintenance (Euro/y)	6.700
pay-back period (y)	9,9

Porto - Rehabilitation Process in the Historical Centre

The Porto's project is associated with an urban rehabilitation programme in which 300.000 m² of degraded buildings have to be renovated in the historic centre, which is classified as part of the World Heritage List by UNESCO. It is an urban agglomeration of great historic, artistic, cultural and architectural value, with medieval urban features. CRUARB Building is a 1080 m2 built area, hosting the technical body for the Historic Centre of the Porto Municipality. It is a refined and cultured example of use of natural lighting in cities' historic centres.

South Dublin - RESTART Ireland

In the RESTART-Dublin project 500 housing units have been constructed throughout Ireland, with a focus on South Dublin. The project constitutes the single most important initiative in Ireland directed at addressing the potential for the design and construction of more energy-efficient housing. It has attracted considerable attention from local authorities, semi-state bodies as well as the commercial sector.

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