State of the Art on Sustainability Assessment of Positive Energy Districts: Methodologies, Indicators and Future Perspectives

Francesco Guarino*, Adriano Bisello, Dorian Frieden, Joana Bastos, Alberto Brunetti, Maurizio Cellura, Marco Ferraro, Alberto Fichera, Emanuela Giancola, Matthias Haase, Julia Kantorovitch, Camilla Neumann, Rose Mankaa, Ivan Luque Segura, Marzia Traverso, Giovanni Tumminia, Rosaria Volpe, Xiaojin Zhang

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference article in proceedingsScientificpeer-review

    13 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The concept of Positive Energy District is one of the main areas of research and extensive applications of the principles of the clean energy transition within the building sector. In the past years, the most widely accepted definitions have focused specifically on carbon neutrality, while several other aspects regarding all sustainability approaches (including environmental, social and economic perspective) were included qualitatively or to a lesser degree. This paper proposes a discussion on the state of the art of the sustainability assessment of Positive Energy Districts, by investigating environmental, social and economic sustainability applications. The three sustainability dimensions are investigated individually first, while discussing methodological insights, key performance indicators used and quantitative results, as well as in an integrated perspective. Finally, the paper describes research gaps and areas for further development on the topic.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationSustainability in Energy and Buildings, 2021
    EditorsJohn R. Littlewood, Robert J. Howlett, Lakhmi C. Jain
    PublisherSpringer
    Pages479-492
    ISBN (Electronic)978-981-16-6269-0
    ISBN (Print)978-981-16-6268-3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2022
    MoE publication typeA4 Article in a conference publication
    Event13th KES International Conference on Sustainability and Energy in Buildings, SEB 2021 - Virtual, Split, Croatia
    Duration: 15 Sept 202117 Sept 2021

    Publication series

    SeriesSmart Innovation, Systems and Technologies
    Number263
    ISSN2190-3018

    Conference

    Conference13th KES International Conference on Sustainability and Energy in Buildings, SEB 2021
    Abbreviated title SEB 2021
    Country/TerritoryCroatia
    CitySplit
    Period15/09/2117/09/21

    Funding

    This work was developed within the context of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Energy in buildings and construction (EBC) Annex 83 workgroup Positive Energy Districts.

    Keywords

    • Carbon–neutral
    • Economics
    • Environmental
    • Positive energy districts
    • Social
    • Sustainability assessment

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