PEOPLERiccardo Pinotti

Riccardo Pinotti

Senior Researcher
Institute for Renewable Energy

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About

I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Renewable Energy at Eurac Research. My main research area is in the field of energy efficiency in buildings.In particular, I deal with advanced envelope system, both for new and existing building, ensuring high energy performances to the building as well as high comfort indoor conditions to the users. Energy modelling and hygro-thermal simulations are the main instruments that I use to assess the perfromances of the building.

Scientific Publications

Conference proceedings article2026

Environmental justice and nature-based solutions: Thermal and ecological benefits of high-biodiversity and biosolar roofs in the Bolzano industrial zone

Pace R, Chen Y, Zarei M, Grazieschi G, Pinotti R, Siclari I, Zandonella Callegher C, Gantioler S

Rocco Pace, Gianluca Grazieschi, Riccardo Pinotti, Claudio Zandonella Callegher

Projekt: EU H2020 JUSTNature - Aktivierung von naturbasierten Lösungen für eine gerechte klimaneutrale Transformation

Cities face significant environmental challenges due to climate change. The lack of green spaces in urban areas can worsen these issues by amplifying the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Socio-economic inequalities further complicate the situation, leading to uneven distribution of climate impacts. Nature-based Solutions (NbS), such as green roofs and walls, offer benefits like cooling effects, enhanced biodiversity, and improved energy efficiency. The JUSTNature project studies the effectiveness of NbS interventions. In Bolzano (Italy), biosolar and high-biodiversity green roofs were implemented on a building in an industrial zone with high UHI intensity. High-resolution microclimate simulations using ENVI-met software, along with local weather data and detailed 3D models, assessed the thermal effects of green roofs. Energy modeling simulations evaluated the impact on building energy performance, including photovoltaic panel output and cost-benefits. Simulations showed significant temperature reductions: over 20 °C in surface temperature and up to 2 °C in air temperature during the hottest day recorded in 2023 (August 23). These interventions resulted in energy savings of 30–46% for cooling, demonstrating their effectiveness in enhancing building energy performance while maintaining indoor comfort. The findings highlight the broader benefits of NbS, such as mitigating UHI effects, promoting urban biodiversity, and creating green corridors in densely built environments. Insights from this project suggest that NbS can support sustainable UHI adaptation strategies, contributing to more equitable environmental transformation in cities.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-95-1818-0_30

Conference proceedings article2026

Nature-Based Solutions: Thermal and Environmental Benefits of High-Biodiversity and Biosolar Roofs in the Bolzano Industrial Zone

Pace R, Chen Y, Zarei M, Grazieschi G, Pinotti R, Siclari I, Zandonella Callegher C, Gantioler S

Rocco Pace, Gianluca Grazieschi, Riccardo Pinotti, Marzieh Zarei, Claudio Zandonella Callegher, Isabella Siclari, Yi Chen

Projekt: EU H2020 JUSTNature - Aktivierung von naturbasierten Lösungen für eine gerechte klimaneutrale Transformation

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-95-1818-0_30

Conference proceedings article2026

Parametric Energy Analysis of GRs and GWs Across European Climates with a Life-Cycle Cost Assessment in the Bolzano Case Study

Zarei M, Pinotti R, Avesani S

Riccardo Pinotti

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-14677-9_2

Journal article2025

Hygrothermal analysis of prefabricated façades with active components for minimal invasive renovations

Monteleone W, Pinotti R, Ochs F, Dermentzis G

Riccardo Pinotti

To achieve a decarbonised building stock by 2050, the renovation rate must be significantly increased by means of cost-effective, minimally invasive, and scalable solutions. Prefabricated façades with integrated active components such as heat pumps or mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) offer a promising approach, particularly in multi-family buildings. These solutions enhance the building envelope performance and accelerate the replacement of fossil-based heating systems. However, there is limited understanding of how integrated components affect the heat transfer in prefabricated façades and influence interior wall surface temperatures. This work presents two case studies involving two types of façade-integrated heat pumps and a MVHR system. Both heat pumps were tested in a laboratory and the temperature and relative humidity around the equipment and within the façade were monitored. A thermal model was calibrated for both cases based on the measurements, focusing on the most critical thermal sections. In case study A with the exhaust-to-supply air heat pump, a significant thermal bridge was found between the window and the heat pump cavity, with heat fluxes reaching 50 W/m² and surface temperatures up to 2 °C lower than the indoor air. In case study B with the façade-integrated outdoor unit of a mini-split domestic hot water heat pump, an overall heat transfer coefficient for the façade of 0.46 W/(m² K) was measured. The most critical area was between timber beams and the cavity, where a heat flux of 27.5 W/m² was observed and the surface temperature was about 1 °C lower than the indoor air temperature. Recommendations are made for proper installation of façade-integrated equipment in prefabricated timber façades to guarantee uncritical long-term operation.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2025.112735

Conference proceedings article2024

From single tests to a test-chain: A comprehensive approach for evaluating the interaction between the building envelope and the IEQ

Babich F, Pinotti R, Gazzin R, Visentin C, Lollini R

Riccardo Gazzin, Francesco Babich, Roberto Lollini, Riccardo Pinotti

Projekt: EU H2020 MEZeroE - Messung von Fassadenprodukten und -systemen, die zur nächsten Generation von gesunden Niedrigstenergiegebäuden (nZEB) beitragen

In recent years building envelope systems have become increasingly more com-plex. Especially in high-performance low-carbon buildings, envelopes comprise several passive and active components such as advanced membranes, mechanical ventilation machines and integrated photovoltaics that must be mutually optimized to ensure a global elevated performance. One of the key expectations from these innovative envelopes is better capabilities of providing highly comfortable and healthy indoor environments while using as little energy as possible. However, the complexity of such envelopes poses two major challenges: (i) standard assessment procedures might not be usable to evaluate them either because these do not fully capture their potential or be-cause the complexity of product makes the standard test unfeasible, and (ii) multiple indoor environmental quality (IEQ) domains are simultaneously affected by these envelopes, and thus complementary tests in different domain are needed to ensure that a benefit in one domain does not lead to issues in others. For this reason, a test-chain for a thorough energy demand, indoor occupants’ comfort, and behaviour analysis performance has been implemented. It comprises a set of labs and additional simulation capabilities to study the building envelope-IEQ interaction at various technology readiness level. This paper provides an overview of the test-chain and its first application for the evaluation of a multifunctional façade. This façade includes a reversible air-to-air heat pump, a mechanical ventilation system, and openable windows, and aims at easing the achievement of the nZEB target while delivering elevated IEQ.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.1051/e3sconf/202452301001

Journal article2024

Integrated rehabilitation of reinforced concrete buildings: Combining seismic retrofit by means of low-damage exoskeleton and energy refurbishment using multi-functional prefabricated facade

Sebastiani I, D'Amore S, Pinotti R, Pampanin S

Riccardo Pinotti

Projekt: EU FESR Legnattivo - Modular- und Aktiv Fassaden für die Energiesanierung des Gebäudes im Bestand

The European building stock was mostly built before the mid-20th century and is characterized by buildings with high energy demand and high seismic vulnerability. Integrated upgrading interventions are therefore urgently needed for moving towards a more resilient community. In this study, rehabilitation interventions are proposed for reinforced concrete buildings to improve their energy efficiency as well as their structural/seismic performance. An integrated refurbishment aiming at structural, architectural, and energy upgrading is targeted. Energy retrofitting with multifunctional wood-based prefabricated modular facades has been evaluated, as capable of reducing heat consumption by an average of 84 % in different climate zones. More specifically, an exoskeleton system consisting of Prestressed Laminated timber (Pres-Lam) technology is considered, which will act as a structural support-skeleton system for a high-performance “double-skin” solution composed of prefabricated panels. This solution can reduce the seismic risk class in high seismic zones. The seismic-energetic integrated intervention is developed for a representative case study building and evaluated with reference to different climates and seismic zones. Furthermore, a preliminary cost-benefit analysis of the integrated solution has been performed, showing higher benefits when compared to the sole energy retrofit. Specifically, considering the seismic retrofit interventions, the cost analysis pointed out that moving up to higher-use classes results in higher performance and costs. Nevertheless, approximately comparable breakeven times have been obtained in the same seismic region by achieving higher targets. The proposed integrated solution is a promising alternative to demolition and reconstruction, providing a deep energy renovation and structural retrofit, avoiding inevitable waste production, additional energy consumption, and C0₂ emissions; and allowing for a sustainable renovation of the existing building stock.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2024.110368

Journal article2023

Comparative cost analysis of traditional and industrialised deep retrofit scenarios for a residential building

Gubert M, Avesani S, Ngoyaro JA, Juaristi Gutierrez M, Pinotti R, Brandolini D

Martino Gubert, Miren Juaristi Gutierrez, Riccardo Pinotti

Projekt: EU H2020 INFINITE - INDUSTRIALISIERTE, HALTBARE GEBÄUDEHÜLLENSANIERUNG DURCH MITEINANDER VERBUNDENE TECHNOLOGIELÖSUNGEN

In this paper, the economic competitiveness for deep retrofit actions between the industrialised off-site and the traditional on-site approaches are discussed by using a comparative Life Cycle Costing (LCC) analysis. This assessment was based on a deep analysis of all renovation-related cost and timing processes, from design to operation and maintenance phases. The study was based on three retrofit scenarios for an existing building in Italy undergoing a deep renovation. The Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) was developed starting from real costs and a list of bills collected by the design team and the industrialised technologies developers. Afterwards, the LCC modelling was performed for all scenarios. The results show that the two deep retrofit approaches (traditional and industrialised) are comparable in terms of investment costs, even if a gap of around -7% and +16% still exists. This highlights a potential for technological optimisation. Moreover, the operation and maintenance phase has shown to be key to transforming the expected higher quality of the industrialised components into a prolonged life expectance, hence highly impacting the whole cumulated Net Present Value. Finally, the analysis of the End of Life (EoL) phase in case of possible reusing of some dismantled components in the industrialised scenario resulted in contributing in a relevant way to increase the final value of such an approach.

Special Issue Multifunctional Façades for Renovation through Industrialization

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.47982/jfde.2023.2.A3

Conference proceedings article2023

Hygro-thermal experimental analysis of a flat roof structure integrating a variable vapor-diffusivity membrane

Pinotti R, Brugnara P, Avesani S

Riccardo Pinotti

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.52202/069179-0496

Journal article2021

Repository of Deep Renovation Packages Based on Industrialized Solutions: Definition and Application

Pernetti R, Pinotti R, Lollini R

Roberto Lollini, Riccardo Pinotti

Projekt: EU H2020 4RinEU - Leistungsfähige und anwendungsorientierte Technologien und Geschäftsmodelle zur umfassenden energetischen Sanierung des Wohngebäudebestandes in der EU

Renovation Wave aims to boost the uptake of deep renovation towards the CO₂ emission targets for 2030. In this perspective, there is the need of technologies and solution sets for improving the deep renovation process as well as demonstrating the performances for supporting the stakeholders in the decision-making process. To cope with the issue, this work presents a methodology for setting up a repository of building deep renovation packages that integrates industrialised facade technologies and more traditional solutions. The performances feeding into the repository have been evaluated by means of transient detailed simulations on a set of reference buildings in representative European climate conditions. The renovation packages are evaluated in terms of key performance indicators dealing with five areas: energy, comfort, pollutant emissions, cost, and renovation time. The defined repository includes 289 assessed technology packages and associated performances across Europe, providing a comprehensive support to identify the most effective solutions according to the user needs. The paper presents the application of the repository with two examples of stakeholders’ decision-making paths for selecting the deep renovation packages according to different priorities and expected targets.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.3390/su13116412

Conference proceedings article2019

Towards a Systematic Approach for Supporting The Design Process of Deep Renovation Packages Based on Prefabricated Facade Technologies

Pinotti R, Pernetti R, Babich F, Lollini R

Francesco Babich, Roberto Lollini, Riccardo Pinotti

In Europe, the CO2 emissions generated by buildings can be decreased only by enhancing the performances of existing building, and the principle “energy efficiency first” is strongly promoted by the new EPBD. In order to foster the implementation of the renovation, the process has to become faster and the post-intervention performances should be evaluated with a high level of reliability. This research was developed within the EU H2020 project 4RinEU (www.4rineu.eu) and aimed to develop and evaluate a methodology for comparing the performances of deep renovation packages (RPs), implementing traditional and innovative technologies. This paper focuses on the prefabricated façade component in which active elements such shading systems, single-room ventilation devices, and photovoltaic panels have been integrated. Within 4RinEU, Europe was divided into six climatic geo-clusters. The RPs have been defined for a set of representative residential building archetypes selected from TABULA database, based on the characteristics and renovation needs of the building stock in each geo-cluster. This paper presents the general methodology and the preliminary results of the application to one building archetype defined within the project. The results show that the developed methodology is easily replicable and can be a very useful support in the design phase of these complex renovation interventions.

DOI

DOI: 10.26868/25222708.2019.211214

Journal article2018

How to analyse the performances of innovative variable diffusivity membranes integrated within prefabricated timber facades: Computer-based modelling and experimental analysis

Pinotti R, Avesani S, Babich F, Gasparella A, Speranza A

Francesco Babich, Riccardo Pinotti

Vapour barriers and retarders are often needed to improve the hygro-thermal performance of the building envelope. Their use is particularly important in prefabricated timber façades, especially when critical boundary conditions occur. In the literature, very little is known about the actual performance of complete envelope packages that integrate these membranes, since most previous studies focused on the analysis of single components. However, considering the growing interest and use of such timber facade elements, an analysis of the performance of integrated membranes is needed in order to improve the material function curves available in the datasheets to enable the correct design of the whole wall structure. Thus, the novelty of this work lies in the validated analysis of a building envelope sample that integrates membranes with a variable vapour diffusivity.

The focus of the paper is more related to the experimental set-up and particular attention has been paid to the development of a relatively simple testing procedure to analyse the behaviour of such integrated membranes. The study seeks to investigate the behaviour of an envelope component integrating a hygro-variable membrane and a breathable membrane by using computer simulation and experimental facilities.

A thermo-hygrometric analysis of the element has been performed in Delphin, and an experimental methodology is presented, aiming to validate the numerical model, measuring the temperature and relative humidity in different layers. Two sets of boundary conditions have been accurately chosen as they are critical for the building component in terms of thermal and humidity transmission.

Results show very good agreement for one test condition. For the second condition, the measurement uncertainty was greater. One possible reason for this was the presence of condensate in the measurement box frame caused by the first test run. The experimental set-up developed is a relatively easy-to-replicate layout for the validation of similar complex packages. Compared to previous studies, the experimental set-up used in this research is simpler and less expensive.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.7480/jfde.2018.2.2083

Journal article2017

Optimised parametric model of a modular multifunctional climate adaptive façade for shopping centres retrofitting

Pinotti R, Avesani S, Belleri A, De Michele G, Ingenhoven P

Annamaria Belleri, Giuseppe De Michele, Riccardo Pinotti

Existing shopping centres offer a great opportunity thanks to their retrofit for the reduction of the energy consumption. The partners of the European FP7 CommONEnergy project are developing a modular multifunctional façade for the retrofit of shopping malls, capable to adapt to different climates and to the existing building features both by the presence of movable components and by proper sizing of the fixed ones. In particular, the curtain- wall façade is equipped with a fixed shading system, a photovoltaic panel with a battery feeding the automated openings for natural ventilation. The aim of this work is to define a reliable parametric model for a multi-functional façade system, supporting designers with a set of useful data for the proper design of the façade configuration depending on climate, orientation and building use. Firstly, a reference zone model for the façade has been set; this had to be both representative of the real case and smartly defined for simulation software implementation. Besides the definition of the façade model parameters, all free design variables have been settled as minimum and maximum values, depending on different possible applications and environmental conditions in which the façade could be applied. Inputs for the model have been defined in a parametric matrix and they include facade module size, façade orientation, climate, window typology (thermal transmittance and g-value), distance between the shading lamellas and tilt angle, openable window size. The simulation engine is decoupled: visual comfort and artificial lighting use have been assessed with Radiance, while the façade thermal behaviour is evaluated by means of building energy simulations in TRNSYS, taking into consideration the Radiance results. For each simulated configuration, a set of relevant outputs in the field of Indoor Air Quality, thermal and visual comfort, and energy performance have been chosen. The main considered performance indicators are the long-term percentage of people dissatisfied, the number of hour when CO₂ concentration is within the recommended values for each of the categories defined by EN 15251:2007, the illuminance provided by daylight, the energy consumption due to lighting, ventilation, heating and cooling, energy generated by the PV panel. Moreover, all outputs have been collected in a user-friendly database and gathered in a simple tool. The work highlights the role of thermal and daylighting simulation in the design of an adaptive multifunctional façade.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.7480/jfde.2017.1.1421

Technische
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Journal article2017

Optimised parametric model of a modular multifunctional climate adaptive façade for shopping centres retrofitting

Pinotti R, Avesani S, Belleri A, De Michele G, Ingenhoven P

Annamaria Belleri, Giuseppe De Michele, Riccardo Pinotti

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.7480/jfde.2017.1.1421

Riccardo Pinotti

About

Scientific Publications

Environmental justice and nature-based solutions: Thermal and ecological benefits of high-biodiversity and biosolar roofs in the Bolzano industrial zone

Nature-Based Solutions: Thermal and Environmental Benefits of High-Biodiversity and Biosolar Roofs in the Bolzano Industrial Zone

Parametric Energy Analysis of GRs and GWs Across European Climates with a Life-Cycle Cost Assessment in the Bolzano Case Study

Hygrothermal analysis of prefabricated façades with active components for minimal invasive renovations

From single tests to a test-chain: A comprehensive approach for evaluating the interaction between the building envelope and the IEQ

Integrated rehabilitation of reinforced concrete buildings: Combining seismic retrofit by means of low-damage exoskeleton and energy refurbishment using multi-functional prefabricated facade

Comparative cost analysis of traditional and industrialised deep retrofit scenarios for a residential building

Hygro-thermal experimental analysis of a flat roof structure integrating a variable vapor-diffusivity membrane

Repository of Deep Renovation Packages Based on Industrialized Solutions: Definition and Application

Towards a Systematic Approach for Supporting The Design Process of Deep Renovation Packages Based on Prefabricated Facade Technologies

How to analyse the performances of innovative variable diffusivity membranes integrated within prefabricated timber facades: Computer-based modelling and experimental analysis

Optimised parametric model of a modular multifunctional climate adaptive façade for shopping centres retrofitting

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Externe Inhalte

Scientific Publications

Environmental justice and nature-based solutions: Thermal and ecological benefits of high-biodiversity and biosolar roofs in the Bolzano industrial zone

Nature-Based Solutions: Thermal and Environmental Benefits of High-Biodiversity and Biosolar Roofs in the Bolzano Industrial Zone

Parametric Energy Analysis of GRs and GWs Across European Climates with a Life-Cycle Cost Assessment in the Bolzano Case Study

Hygrothermal analysis of prefabricated façades with active components for minimal invasive renovations

From single tests to a test-chain: A comprehensive approach for evaluating the interaction between the building envelope and the IEQ

Integrated rehabilitation of reinforced concrete buildings: Combining seismic retrofit by means of low-damage exoskeleton and energy refurbishment using multi-functional prefabricated facade

Comparative cost analysis of traditional and industrialised deep retrofit scenarios for a residential building

Hygro-thermal experimental analysis of a flat roof structure integrating a variable vapor-diffusivity membrane

Repository of Deep Renovation Packages Based on Industrialized Solutions: Definition and Application

Towards a Systematic Approach for Supporting The Design Process of Deep Renovation Packages Based on Prefabricated Facade Technologies

How to analyse the performances of innovative variable diffusivity membranes integrated within prefabricated timber facades: Computer-based modelling and experimental analysis

Optimised parametric model of a modular multifunctional climate adaptive façade for shopping centres retrofitting