Environment & Energy needs and end-uses
Research focus
The Peer review has evaluated this group as Average
The objectives of security of supply, environmental protection and preservation of physical resources, create the need to plan and manage the energy scenario and technologies at different spatial levels (urban, regional, national and global). But this is not enough, since the energy issue is nowadays strongly linked not only with the environment preservation but also with the economic and social development of a regional area; awareness of these links is growing not only within the scientific world, but also within economic, social and political actors. Research thus needs to move in the direction of producing innovation on sustainable systems and components to reduce the environmental impact without effecting the economical development of a country both within the OECD, the emerging and the least developed countries. In this sector the goals are increasing efficiency, safety and reliability, reducing environmental impact, while at the same time creating social benefits. The research is currently focused on the following topics. - Energy-efficient end-use technologies Measurement and analysis of energy consumption and load profiles of various end-uses in the domestic and service sector (e.g. in EIE projects El-Tertiary and Remodece) with the aim of improving the methodology and extending the content of a European Database on energy end-use profiles and benchmarking in domestic and tertiary buildings. Assessment and simulation tools for high efficiency lighting systems analysis. Energy efficiency assessment and market transformation processes for appliances (refrigerators, washing machines, circulation pumps,...) and other end-use devices.. Analysis of the effect on the electric grid of local implementation of energy efficiency measures in electric end-uses. Development and assessment of methodologies for evaluation of savings achieved by Demand. Side management programmes and in particular development of methodologies for bottom-up evaluation of energy savings (e.g. in the EIE project EMEEES). - Urban, regional and global energy, environment and social policies Assessment of the energy saving potential and of market distorsion and barriers to the diffusion of energy efficient end-use technologies. Scenario analysis and Energy Policy analysis to support development of energy saving schemes and legislation (at National level) and Directives (at EU level). Analysis of the effets of tariff-based and market-based mechanisms for the diffusion of energy efficient technologies and practices.Energy needs analysis and connection with the economical and the social development of a regional area. Analysis of the connection between energy needs and environmental impact at local (pollution and air quality) and global level (climate change). The interconnection between Energy, Environment and Development is studied with a special focus on LDC (Least Developed Countries). The driving idea supported in cooperation with other EU universities and UN agencies is the promotion of technologies and innovation systems for covering the energy needs of the local population and industry while respecting social and cultural autonomies. A proposal for the EDULINK program is going to be presented with the second call and a framework agreement with UNIDO and a number of African universities is going to be signed in April 2007 - Energy sources Perspective analysis of the contribution, the potential and the limits of current energy sources (fossil, renewable, nuclear…). - Energy culture dissemination Energy use depends also on behaviour and introduction of new technologies on social acceptance, hence the mechanisms and schemes to be adopted for a more rational and efficient energy use, need to be correctly communicated.. The research item is then focused on implementing excellence in higher education, and in spreading adequate information and knowledge to the economic, social and political actors.
Dipartimento di afferenza
Docenti afferenti
Full Professors
Pedrocchi Ernesto
Associate Professors
De Marchi Paola
Inzoli Fabio
Assistant Professors
Colombo Emanuela
Pagliano Lorenzo