Technical and economic feasibility study for the NZEB renovation of public school buildings in the Municipality of Acate (RG), Sicily

In the context of the European Union’s decarbonization strategy, Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) have become a central objective in reducing the environmental impact of the building sector, which accounts for nearly 40% of total energy consumption. Schools, as public buildings with stable use patterns and often outdated structures, are an important target for energy renovations. This thesis, developed in collaboration with the ESCO Ri-ESCo, focuses on the technical and economic feasibility of NZEB retrofitting interventions in the public school buildings of the Municipality of Acate (RG), Sicily. The analysis includes on-site data collection and energy modeling carried out using the software Termolog, which also supports NZEB compliance checks and the preparation of regulatory documentation. The analysis begins with an assessment of the current state of the buildings, considering energy consumption, envelope and system characteristics, and climatic conditions. Based on these inputs, a set of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures is proposed and evaluated in terms of energy savings, energy class improvement, and regulatory compliance. Each intervention is also assessed from an economic perspective, including cost estimates, available incentives, projected savings, and payback times. These results are the basis for the preparation of the preliminary technical and economic design (PFTE), which includes all required documentation for potential implementation under Energy Performance Contract (EPC). For the buildings identified as suitable for renovation, the proposed interventions achieve substantial reductions in primary energy demand and show financial viability under current national incentive frameworks.