176
3
Design of Experimental Environmental
Quality Indexes
In order to implement the procedures analysed in the previous chapter, it was
deemed useful to design calculation methods:
• capable of analysing all the surfaces in the building lot, yards, walls and roof,
• capable of analysing the various types of surfaces, whether green or not,
• capable of keeping the entry of data as easy as in the existing indexes,
• capable of applying the typical approximations of town-planning indexes,
• capable of highlighting environmental performances on the basis of indicators
which assess tangible physical phenomena,
• capable of implementing UNI values, procedures already defined by laws or
municipal rules.
In order to assess the environmental quality of a building lot, an attempt has been
made to design an approach based on technical and scientific consistencies, identifying specific indicators capable of highlighting the physical properties of the building lot which significantly affect the environment. Lest the typical approach of
town-planning indexes be changed excessively, it was decided to apply suitable
approximations, such as to not complicate the data entry phase performed by users
(appointed technicians or owners).
The main environmental features which are affected by the types of actions
which can be carried out within a building lot are the effect of a heat island (outside
the building), energy saving (inside the building) and hydraulic risk (outside the
building lot). As a consequence, on the basis of a technical analysis of these features, the indicators chosen to characterise the building lot are the following:
• thermal energy absorbed by the surfaces (yard, walls, roof), with reference to
both the heat island effect and energy saving, which shows the extent of solar
radiation withheld by the building lot;
• the amount of water leaving the building lot (yards, roof or any tanks), with reference to the hydraulic risk, which shows how much water due to rainfalls is
released into the sewers.
3
Design of Experimental Environmental
Quality Indexes
In order to implement the procedures analysed in the previous chapter, it was
deemed useful to design calculation methods:
• capable of analysing all the surfaces in the building lot, yards, walls and roof,
• capable of analysing the various types of surfaces, whether green or not,
• capable of keeping the entry of data as easy as in the existing indexes,
• capable of applying the typical approximations of town-planning indexes,
• capable of highlighting environmental performances on the basis of indicators
which assess tangible physical phenomena,
• capable of implementing UNI values, procedures already defined by laws or
municipal rules.
In order to assess the environmental quality of a building lot, an attempt has been
made to design an approach based on technical and scientific consistencies, identifying specific indicators capable of highlighting the physical properties of the building lot which significantly affect the environment. Lest the typical approach of
town-planning indexes be changed excessively, it was decided to apply suitable
approximations, such as to not complicate the data entry phase performed by users
(appointed technicians or owners).
The main environmental features which are affected by the types of actions
which can be carried out within a building lot are the effect of a heat island (outside
the building), energy saving (inside the building) and hydraulic risk (outside the
building lot). As a consequence, on the basis of a technical analysis of these features, the indicators chosen to characterise the building lot are the following:
• thermal energy absorbed by the surfaces (yard, walls, roof), with reference to
both the heat island effect and energy saving, which shows the extent of solar
radiation withheld by the building lot;
• the amount of water leaving the building lot (yards, roof or any tanks), with reference to the hydraulic risk, which shows how much water due to rainfalls is
released into the sewers.