Historical Heritage: from energy consumer to energy producer. The case study of the ‘Albergo dei Poveri’ of Genoa, Italy

The monumental complex of the ‘Albergo dei Poveri’ was built between the late Seventeenth century and the middle of the Nineteenth as a monumental structure for charitable purposes. The idea of the complex was based on the segregation of poor and diseased people, divided for sex, age, social status and physical health. The monumental complex occupies a total surface of about 60,000 square meters, and the green area behind the complex, Valletta San Nicola, about 25,000 square meters. The building was almost completely abandoned since more than a decade, hence a renewal project was defined in order to allow a complete use of the building as a university campus (pole for humanities). Given its size and location in the heart of the city, the building could represent in the future a great opportunity for urban renewal. According to that, the Rector assigned, in 2011, to the School od Specialization in Architectural and Landscape Heritage (director prof. Stefano F. Musso) the task of preliminary researches related to the building restoration and renovation. This paper is focused on the aspects concerning the relation between improvement of energy efficiency and conservation of historical and architectural values, as this balance is often considered in conflict. Main aim of the part of the research here described, and still in progress, is the definition, from a methodological and technical point of view, of feasibility studies in order to submit the historical monumental heritage in a process of "energy efficiency" and "smart grids" (the research is funded by a grant from Regione Liguria). Following this main objective, the work investigates the possibility to use the monumental complex and its site as an energy-producer, and not only an energy-consumer. In particular, a feasibility study has been prepared, according to the structural and constructive characteristics of the complex, to obtain an efficient use of energy resources. Supported by Ansaldo Energia, the researchers begun an analysis to determine the most appropriate solutions for energy production technology through co-generation and tri-generation with microturbines powered by gas. The paper deals with: the general master plan with new uses; energy demand; the results and the problems of calculation through current software for heating and cooling; the analysis of the electricity demand and the needs of domestic hot water; the definition of the most suitable intervention to improve thermal behavior of the architectural complex and to produce energy.