Energy efficiency in Sicilian rural building renovation (Italy): analysis of the parameters for an innovative, low impact and energetically self sufficient restructuring

Nowadays energy efficiency attracts increasing interest; this also appears in local Calls for Proposals, i.e. the POR FESR 2007-2013 of the Regional Authorities of Sicily, Italy, whose evaluation criteria are aimed at stimulating the adoption of “eco-innovation for consumption control and reduction”, as well as the “use of eco-sustainable housing”. This work aims to explain how house planning can foster maximum energy and water efficiency in rural building renovation and refurbishment, thanks to the recourse to different materials and innovative building techniques. In this paper the following technologies will be analysed: thermal insulation with new and natural materials; the use of local materials to reduce energy consumption and the environmental impact of transportation; the recourse to ventilated walls or “green” roofs; the re-establishment or design of rainwater collecting systems; low energy consumption purification plants using less chemical reagents; biologic pools, which do not make use of chemical additives.