Integration of Renewable Technologies for Sustainable Development in an Alpine Heritage Village

In response to the undeniable reality of climate change, this thesis explores the pressing need for sustainable solutions, focusing on the revitalization of Querio, an abandoned historic village in the Alps between Turin and Aosta. Uninhabited for decades, it provides a distinctive setting to explore the integration of renewable energy and energy-saving systems, with a central emphasis on preserving its unique character. In fact, the thesis navigates the challenge of harmonizing the adoption of such systems while respecting the context's identity, showcasing how neglected territories can be revitalized using renewable energy resources and innovative technologies. In the first section are explored the entities, regulations and initiatives safeguarding cultural and landscape heritage, concluding that recent efforts show a commitment to involving buildings with high heritage and landscape value in addressing climate change. Then the recovery project for Querio is outlined, employing the innovative “diffused hotel” model, that guarantees minimal disturbance to the village's distinctive characteristics and allows to do an estimate of the town’s hourly consumption throughout the average year. Next are presented sustainable insulation and heating systems integrated with circular economy principles using local by products. In particular, the chosen method for producing thermal energy ensures both environmental and aesthetic harmony, involving a district heating system with a central biomass boiler fuelled with chipped wood, a renewable material derived from waste generated by local sawmills. Subsequently, to sustainably meet the energy demand is proposed the installation of a photovoltaic energy production system. The analysis compares tools to obtain solar irradiance and different solar panel’s configurations, with a deep focus on their aesthetic impact and efficiencies. Economic aspects of various configurations are also assessed considering different energy management options, revealing that systems emphasizing aesthetics are more expensive. Nevertheless, they provide reasonable return on investment times, especially when considering the preservation of the area's rich historical and landscape value. The research, while acknowledging limitations, demonstrates the feasibility of implementing renewable energy in valuable contexts. It showcases adaptability and resilience, shedding light on the potential to revitalize marginalized areas by transforming challenges into opportunities.