PEOPLEAlexandra Troi

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Alexandra Troi

Vice Head of Institute
Institute for Renewable Energy

T +39 0471 055 602

alexandra.troi@eurac.edu

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7450-4688

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About

My main research interest is energy retrofit of historic buildings – developed from a background in electric engineering with a focus on energy in buildings, my PhD on "Church heating - a balancing act between comfort, cost and conservation" and in numerous research projects.

I am today leading the research group on Energy retrofit of historic buildings within the Institute for Renewable Energy (the latter I funded with Wolfram Sparber and am vice-head of). Recently, we have been the operating agent of IEA SHC Task59 on Historic buildings towards NZEB and built up a lab on hygrothermal building characterisation, which I think is a crucial topic for the upcoming energy transition.

At the same time since 2018 I hold a professorship on simulation building physics at Coburg University/Germany and am teaching in the master course on Digital technologies in conservation as well as giving courses to architecture and conservation students.

Scientific Publications

Journal article2026

Monitored hygrothermal dataset of a high-altitude Dolomite refuge: wall and indoor climate at 2870 m a.s.l.

Panico S, Zandonai A, Leonardi E, Larcher M, Cennamo D, Herrera D, Troi A

Marco Larcher, Alexandra Troi, David Cennamo, Eleonora Leonardi, Simone Panico

Progetto: PNRR iNEST - Ecosistema interconnesso dell'innovazione del Nord Est

A five-year hygrothermal dataset (23 September 2020 to 8 August 2025) was compiled from Rifugio Boé, a 1905 stone mountain refuge situated at 2870 m a.s.l. in the Dolomites. The dataset includes hourly recordings of outdoor climate parameters (temperature, relative humidity, global tilted irradiance, and driving rain), indoor conditions across six functionally distinct rooms, and temperature–humidity profiles at three depths within the retrofitted south-east wall. The monitoring system was engineered for robust, long-term operation under harsh alpine conditions. Data are provided in CSV format, accompanied by comprehensive sensor metadata. The dataset supports: (i) validation of hygrothermal simulation models under extreme alpine conditions; (ii) evaluation of the long-term performance and durability of internal insulation within historic masonry; and (iii) benchmarking of moisture-related risk in high-altitude heritage structures. Moreover, the dataset offers a rare opportunity to examine hygrothermal responses in high-elevation-built heritage, a research domain where long-term, high-frequency data remain scarce.

DOI Fonte

DOI: 10.1038/s41597-025-06441-3

Journal article2025

Assessing the impact of moisture buffering properties of materials on indoor environmental quality: A study on a recycled material plaster

Larcher M, Leonardi E, Troi A, Stefani A, Nerobutto G, Herrera-Avellanosa D

Marco Larcher, Alexandra Troi, Eleonora Leonardi

Progetto: PNRR iNEST - Ecosistema interconnesso dell'innovazione del Nord Est

This study examines Moisture Buffer Value (MBV) of interior finishing layers, which impacts buildings internal relative humidity, thus indoor environmental quality. The MBV depends on material's moisture capacity and vapour diffusion resistance factor, both of which depends on relative humidity. The paper aims to (i) characterize a new recycled material plaster that includes construction and food industry waste through laboratory measurements, (ii) use dynamical building simulations to quantify the impact of the MBV of existing and the new interior plaster on relative humidity in real design scenarios, and (iii) evaluate how changing the definition of the MBV to consider its dependence on indoor air relative humidity can improve its accuracy. Results show that the plaster's moisture buffering properties significantly reduce the variations of the relative humidity of interior climates compared to a vapour-tight finishing layer. The performances of the new plaster made with recycled materials are comparable to those of the other plasters. The new MBV definitions (“Dynamical MBV″ and “Summer/Winter MBV”) show a significantly improved correlation with the relative humidity variations of indoor climates of buildings, observed in dynamic simulations, with respect to the typically used practical MBV. The new definitions are therefore promising for practical applications.

DOI Fonte

DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.112170

Journal article2025

Hygrothermal Performance of Thermal Plaster Used as Interior Insulation: Identification of the Most Impactful Design Conditions

Leonardi E, Larcher M, Troi A, Stefani A, Nerobutto G, Herrera-Avellanosa D

Marco Larcher, Alexandra Troi, Eleonora Leonardi

Progetto: PNRR iNEST - Ecosistema interconnesso dell'innovazione del Nord Est

Internal insulation plasters enable historic building renovation without altering the external appearance of the wall. However, the use of internal insulation must be verified case-by-case through dynamic hygrothermal simulation, and the influence of input parameters on the results is not always clear. This paper aims to (i) characterize a new lime-based insulating plaster with expanded recycled glass and aerogel through laboratory measurements, (ii) assess the damage criteria of the plaster under different boundary conditions through dynamic simulations, and (iii) identify the most impactful design conditions on the relative humidity behind insulation. This innovative plaster combines highly insulating properties (thermal conductivity of 0.0463 W/mK) with good capillary activity while also integrating recycled components without compromising performance. The relative humidity behind insulation remains below 95% in most simulated scenarios, with cases above this threshold found only in cold climates, particularly under high internal moisture loads. The parametric study shows that (i) in the analyzed stones, the thermal conductivity variation of the existing wall has a greater effect on the relative humidity behind insulation than the variation of the vapor resistance factor, (ii) the effect of insulation thickness on the relative humidity behind insulation depends on the difference in thermal resistance of the insulation and existing masonry layers, and (iii) internal moisture load and external climate directly impact the relative humidity behind insulation.

DOI Fonte

DOI: 10.3390/buildings15193559

Journal article2024

An Energy Self-Sufficient Alpine Hut: The Refurbishment of an Ex-Tobacco Farm Using Building Integrated Photovoltaics

Bottino-Leone D, Exner DE, Adami J, Troi A, Balest J

Alexandra Troi, Dagmar Exner, Jessica Balest, Jennifer Adami

Progetto: EU ITA-AUT SHELTER: Smart Rural Heritage along Tourism Routes, PNRR iNEST - Ecosistema interconnesso dell'innovazione del Nord Est

The abandonment and deterioration of historic rural buildings in Europe raise significant issues, including hydrogeological risks, the loss of productive land, and cultural heritage decline. Despite being underestimated, these structures hold significant potential for cultural and productive activities. Renovating these structures is crucial for local communities committed to preserving their heritage, and it is a more sustainable approach than constructing new buildings. This study explores activities undertaken in the Interreg IT/AT project “SHELTER” in Valbrenta (IT): through a participatory approach involving communities, stakeholders, designers, and researchers, an energy concept is developed for refurbishing an abandoned tobacco farm, chosen by the community, to be an alpine hut. Due to the inability to connect to the city electricity grid, the new energy concept focuses on minimizing consumption through envelope refurbishment, efficient heating, and domestic hot water systems. Additionally, the integration of renewable energy sources, particularly Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), is emphasized to preserve the building’s original appearance. This study demonstrates the feasibility of meeting seasonal energy needs entirely through renewables and explores the potential integration of biomass for meeting annual energy requirements

DOI Fonte

DOI: 10.3390/buildings14020518

Journal article2024

Application of the Guidelines for the Integration of Photovoltaics in Historic Buildings and Landscapes to Evaluate the Best Practices of the Historic Building Energy Retrofit Atlas

Di Rocco AR, Bottino-Leone D, Troi A, Herrera-Avellanosa D

Alexandra Troi

The challenge of transforming historic buildings and city centers into energy-self-sufficient environments requires innovative solutions. The research project “BiPV meets History” addressed this challenge by providing comprehensive guidelines for assessing the integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems in protected historic architectural contexts. To validate these guidelines, this study conducts a thorough examination of best practices through the mentioned guidelines, developing an application tool. Recognizing the power of well-communicated best practices in overcoming obstacles to integrated photovoltaic adoption, this tool is used to assess PV integration quality with respect to the best practice contained in the HiBERatlas database. The analysis of 17 successful refurbishment cases highlighted the robustness and reliability of the proposed methodology, considering aesthetic, technical, and energy aspects. This study emphasizes the potential of the guidelines for achieving a harmonious integration of renewable energy solutions with historic architectural heritage and landscape and improving usability through the developed tool.

DOI Fonte

DOI: 10.3390/buildings14020499

Journal article2024

Evaluating the Implementation of Energy Retrofits in Historic Buildings: A Demonstration of the Energy Conservation Potential and Lessons Learned for Upscaling

Herrera-Avellanosa D, Rose J, Thomsen KE, Haas F, Leijonhufvud G, Brostrom T, Troi A

Alexandra Troi

Progetto: IEA SHC Task 59: Risanamento energetico di edifici storici per massimizzare la riduzione dei consumi energetici ed emissioni di CO2 (nZEB), EU AS ATLAS - Strumenti avanzati per lo sviluppo a bassa emissione di carbonio e ad alto valore dell'architettura storica nello Spazio Alpino, PNRR iNEST - Ecosistema interconnesso dell'innovazione del Nord Est

This study presents an in-depth analysis of 69 case studies focusing on the energy retrofit of historic buildings, uncovering challenges, best practices, and lessons learned to balance energy efficiency improvements with heritage preservation. The findings highlight several challenges encountered during renovations, such as complex heritage evaluations, restrictions on alterations, coordination issues with authorities, technical limitations, higher investment costs, and knowledge gaps. On the other hand, identifying factors promoting renovation, including demonstrating energy savings while respecting heritage, early collaboration between planners and authorities, and quantifying investments, could incentivize owners and authorities. The limitations of a still-limited sample size, occasional incomplete data, and potential sample bias call for cautious interpretation of the presented analysis. Despite these, the study provides valuable insights into successful projects, emphasizing the need for scalability, knowledge transfer from innovative policies, and targeted policy-making for successful replication. The study concludes with a call for further development of the HiBERatlas (Historic Building Energy Retrofit atlas), an extensive resource for historic building renovation, expanding its database, collaborating with agencies, and tailoring guidance for stakeholders to foster energy retrofits in heritage buildings.

DOI Fonte

DOI: 10.3390/heritage7020048

Journal article2024

Long-term monitoring data of hygrothermal conditions of a retrofitted historic building in Settequerce, South Tyrol (Italy)

Panico S, Larcher M, Herrera-Avellanosa D, Cennamo D, Troi A

Marco Larcher, Alexandra Troi, David Cennamo, Simone Panico

Progetto: Realizzazione e avvio delle attività del nuovo laboratorio "HyLab" per la caratterizzazione igrotermica di materiali e componenti edili, PNRR iNEST - Ecosistema interconnesso dell'innovazione del Nord Est

This data collection presents a comprehensive five-year monitoring record from a historic building located in Settequerce, South Tyrol (Italy). The 17th-century building, characterized by a stone masonry, was subject to a retrofit in 2017 that introduced a wood fiber insulation panel to the inner side of the building's walls. As part of the renovation process, a monitoring system was installed. This system incorporated internal, external, and in-wall sensors, which were strategically placed at three different points within the wall to evaluate the effects of the insulation on the stratigraphy. This setup ensured the continuous collection of climatic data, both from the exterior and interior environments, as well as from within the renovated wall's stratigraphy. This comprehensive dataset delivers new insights into the long-term performance of retrofit interventions. The significant potential for reuse of this dataset makes it a substantial foundation for future studies on energy-efficient retrofitting and the preservation of historical structures in comparable climate (Climate E Köppen). It is expected to inform data-driven decisions in future renovation and preservation projects of comparable historic buildings.

DOI Fonte

DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2024.110137

Journal article2024

Social Acceptance of Integrated Photovoltaic Systems in Italian Heritage and Landscape Contexts

Bottino-Leone D, Stawinoga AE, Adami J, Troi A, Herrera-Avellanosa D

Alexandra Troi, Jennifer Adami

This study investigates the social acceptance of integrated photovoltaic (IPV) systems in heritage and landscape contexts, focusing on Italian stakeholders in the construction sector. As part of the “BIPV meets History” research project, this study aims to identify barriers, potentials, drivers, and challenges for widespread PV technology adoption, considering heritage conservation, land preservation, energy production, and climate mitigation. A survey exploring opinions on PV technology integration was conducted. The survey was improved and extended to a total of 271 respondents, using the online method of Computer-Aided Web Interviewing (CAWI), to understand how perceptions of integrated photovoltaics have changed after COVID-19 and the European energy crisis, emphasizing aesthetic, environmental, economic, and personal aspects. The results indicate a general awareness of the technologies, with increasing acceptance in protected contexts, for historic buildings (from 51 to 68%) and especially landscapes (from 44 to 71%), driven by energy and environmental benefits. Cultural concerns, particularly the risk of impacting historical and natural identities, emerge as major barriers. Additionally, it is evident that awareness of PV panel recycling methods is still limited.

DOI Fonte

DOI: 10.3390/buildings14123948

Conference proceedings article2023

Hygrothermal characterization of a plaster with recycled materials used as interior insulation

Leonardi E, Larcher M, Herrera Avellanosa D, Stefani A, Troi A

Marco Larcher, Alexandra Troi, Eleonora Leonardi

Progetto: Realizzazione e avvio delle attività del nuovo laboratorio "HyLab" per la caratterizzazione igrotermica di materiali e componenti edili

Interior insulation plays a key role in reducing the energy consumption of historic buildings. However, it might cause moisture accumulation and must be thoroughly analyzed. The use of recycled materials allows for further reduction of environmental impact. This paper presents the study of a new insulating plaster containing aerogel and recycled glass used as capillary active interior insulation system. Firstly, the hygrothermal properties of the material are measured in laboratory to obtain a complete characterization. Laboratory tests results are postprocessed to obtain the data required as input by the simulation software. Finally, hygrothermal simulations are carried out to investigate the material’s behavior in realistic application scenarios and to study how different input parameters affect the results.

DOI Fonte

DOI: 10.14293/ICMB230024

Journal article2023

Hygrothermal simulation challenges: Assessing boundary condition choices in retrofitting historic European buildings

Panico S, Larcher M, Avellanosa DH, Baglivo C, Troi A, Congedo PM

Marco Larcher, Alexandra Troi, Simone Panico

Progetto: Realizzazione e avvio delle attività del nuovo laboratorio "HyLab" per la caratterizzazione igrotermica di materiali e componenti edili

This study explores the influence of uncertain boundary climate conditions on the hygrothermal performance of an internally insulated historic masonry wall using numerical simulations. The research compares diverse internal and external climate data sources to evaluate their reliability. A pre-validated hygrothermal simulation model serves as the benchmark for comparing simulated data with actual monitoring data. An array of climate data sources, including adaptive indoor climate models defined in the EN 15026 and UNI EN ISO 13788 standards, Typical Meteorological Years, and ground weather station data are considered. The core assessment parameters are temperature and relative humidity values beneath the insulation. Unexpectedly, the findings reveal that external climate conditions have a minor influence on the simulation results. Conversely, internal climate conditions significantly impact the outcomes, causing substantial variations. These implications underline the criticality of selecting an appropriate indoor climate model and moisture load class. The incorrect choice can lead to substantial errors, with peak relative humidity values predicted by the models varying in a range greater than 15 percentage points of relative humidity. In conclusion, the study reveals that utilizing Typical Meteorological Years and adaptive indoor climate models still yields excellent results, despite the inherent uncertainties. Moreover, this study emphasizes the importance of carefully selecting suitable indoor climate models to enhance the accuracy of hygrothermal simulations in historic buildings and underlines the need for future research focused on developing more precise guidelines for identifying the correct moisture load classes.

DOI Fonte

DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113464

Journal article2023

Identifying key parameters through a sensitivity analysis for realistic hygrothermal simulations at wall level supported by monitored data

Panico S, Larcher M, Marincioni V, Troi A, Baglivo C, Congedo PM

Simone Panico, Marco Larcher, Alexandra Troi

The reliability of hygrothermal simulations of building components is key for designing energy efficiency measures, assessing living comfort, and preventing building damage. The model accuracy is related to the reliability of the selection of input parameters. Due to the high uncertainty, the selection of the input values is challenging. This work aims to calibrate a hygrothermal simulation model exploiting monitored values recorded in a case study located in Settequerce (Italy), to understand how close to reality a numerical model can be. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis, based on the Morris method together with a Latin Hypercube sampling, is applied to identify the input parameters that affect most significantly the simulation. The results of the calibration indicated that is possible to obtain reliable outputs by appropriately selecting materials within the database. The sensitivity analysis showed that the relative humidity under the insulation is largely influenced by the water vapor diffusion resistance factor of the plaster, applied during the renovation phase both on the internal and external side. Among the coefficients describing the coupling with the boundary conditions, only the external convective heat coefficient and the coefficient of short-wave solar radiation influence slightly the objective function.

DOI Fonte

DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109969

Journal article2023

Monitoring rising damp in solid masonry walls: An experimental comparison of five different methods

Panico S, Herrera-Avellanosa D, Troi A

Alexandra Troi, Simone Panico

This study focuses on the monitoring of rising damp, a widespread phenomenon that causes moisture-related damages in existing construction. Diagnosing moisture-related damages in construction can be difficult due to the many potential causes of moisture accumulation. The study aims to contribute to the understanding and diagnosis of moisture sources by evaluating and comparing different monitoring techniques for the diagnosis of rising damp in different types of masonry (brick, stone, and reinforced concrete). Five methods were evaluated and compared: gravimetric test, wall weighing, temperature and humidity sensors placed inside the wall, microwave instrumentation, and thermographic images. The results of the study showed that the gravimetric test is the only method that provides reliable and quantitative data, but it has limitations such as the need to ensure that the extracted powders consist of a single material and the potential for heat to cause moisture to evaporate quickly. The weighing method is time-consuming and limited to lab settings, and the use of sensors placed inside the wall is semi-invasive but has important limitations such as sensor reliability and different results in masonry with heterogeneous composition. The data obtained with microwave instruments cannot be easily correlated with the amount of moisture, and the method proposed for the analysis of thermographic images allows for the assessment of the evaporation area over time but has greater uncertainty in some replicas. As a result if the study, a combined approach with complementary methods is suggested to reach more accurate results.

DOI Fonte

DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2023.106999

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Journal article2023

Hygrothermal simulation challenges: Assessing boundary condition choices in retrofitting historic European buildings

Panico S, Larcher M, Avellanosa DH, Baglivo C, Troi A, Congedo PM

Marco Larcher, Alexandra Troi, Simone Panico

Progetto: Realizzazione e avvio delle attività del nuovo laboratorio "HyLab" per la caratterizzazione igrotermica di materiali e componenti edili

DOI Fonte

DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113464

Alexandra Troi

About

Scientific Publications

Monitored hygrothermal dataset of a high-altitude Dolomite refuge: wall and indoor climate at 2870 m a.s.l.

Assessing the impact of moisture buffering properties of materials on indoor environmental quality: A study on a recycled material plaster

Hygrothermal Performance of Thermal Plaster Used as Interior Insulation: Identification of the Most Impactful Design Conditions

An Energy Self-Sufficient Alpine Hut: The Refurbishment of an Ex-Tobacco Farm Using Building Integrated Photovoltaics

Application of the Guidelines for the Integration of Photovoltaics in Historic Buildings and Landscapes to Evaluate the Best Practices of the Historic Building Energy Retrofit Atlas

Evaluating the Implementation of Energy Retrofits in Historic Buildings: A Demonstration of the Energy Conservation Potential and Lessons Learned for Upscaling

Long-term monitoring data of hygrothermal conditions of a retrofitted historic building in Settequerce, South Tyrol (Italy)

Social Acceptance of Integrated Photovoltaic Systems in Italian Heritage and Landscape Contexts

Hygrothermal characterization of a plaster with recycled materials used as interior insulation

Hygrothermal simulation challenges: Assessing boundary condition choices in retrofitting historic European buildings

Identifying key parameters through a sensitivity analysis for realistic hygrothermal simulations at wall level supported by monitored data

Monitoring rising damp in solid masonry walls: An experimental comparison of five different methods

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Scientific Publications

Monitored hygrothermal dataset of a high-altitude Dolomite refuge: wall and indoor climate at 2870 m a.s.l.

Assessing the impact of moisture buffering properties of materials on indoor environmental quality: A study on a recycled material plaster

Hygrothermal Performance of Thermal Plaster Used as Interior Insulation: Identification of the Most Impactful Design Conditions

An Energy Self-Sufficient Alpine Hut: The Refurbishment of an Ex-Tobacco Farm Using Building Integrated Photovoltaics

Application of the Guidelines for the Integration of Photovoltaics in Historic Buildings and Landscapes to Evaluate the Best Practices of the Historic Building Energy Retrofit Atlas

Evaluating the Implementation of Energy Retrofits in Historic Buildings: A Demonstration of the Energy Conservation Potential and Lessons Learned for Upscaling

Long-term monitoring data of hygrothermal conditions of a retrofitted historic building in Settequerce, South Tyrol (Italy)

Social Acceptance of Integrated Photovoltaic Systems in Italian Heritage and Landscape Contexts

Hygrothermal characterization of a plaster with recycled materials used as interior insulation

Hygrothermal simulation challenges: Assessing boundary condition choices in retrofitting historic European buildings

Identifying key parameters through a sensitivity analysis for realistic hygrothermal simulations at wall level supported by monitored data

Monitoring rising damp in solid masonry walls: An experimental comparison of five different methods