SUstainability and PERformances for HEROTILE-based energy efficient roofs

Description

Growing urbanisation and more frequent heatwaves due to climate change lead to overheating of buildings in the summer, a phenomenon which is currently addressed by intensive use of air conditioning with consequent increased emissions of greenhouse gases. Among the solutions for reducing buildings overheating are passive cooling technologies, able to reduce the temperature of roofs and walls.

LIFE SUPERHERO promotes the innovative concept of passive cooling of buildings and aims to spread and encourage the use of ventilated and permeable roofs (VPRs), as an effective solution for climate adaptation and mitigation. VPRs, made of clay tiles, can represent a sustainable and low-cost technology that allows the roof to breathe and disperse the accumulated solar heat, with high performance, which remains stable over time.

The project also relies on the results of a previous project LIFE HEROTILE which developed new types of roof tiles and demonstrated the effectiveness of the HEROTILE-based roof (HBR) in reducing cooling energy by up to 50% compared to other solutions.

LIFE SUPERHERO aims at implementing VPRs and HBRs in existing and new buildings through a strong strategy based on 4 parallel pillars of action:

Proposed standards and regulations (e.g., the production of a standardised test method for air permeability, the proposal to update the eco-rating systems for buildings and public procurement including VPR environmental benefits)
Best practices for Municipalities: HBR will be installed on two buildings in Reggio Emilia, demonstrating its easy and cost-effective implementation while providing high energy and environmental performance
Software development: a decision support tool for building consultants and public administrations will be developed to evaluate the environmental and economic life cycle benefits of VPR and HBR in order to select the best design solutions for their climate projects and plans.
Replicability and industrial transferability: this action will lay the foundations for a strong market uptake of VPR and HBR, thus amplifying the climate benefits achieved by the project, and will involve all partners, especially tile and brick industries and associations.