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At the Department of Management and Engineering (DTG) of the University of Padova (Italy), the research team led by Prof. Renato Lazzarin, formed by the authors, worked during the first fifteen years of the millennium on different topics focused on sustainable technologies for energy production and utilization in buildings. Both experimental and theoretical/modeling studies were carried out, all sharing the evaluation of energy performance and sustainability: From the life cycle assessment and life cycle cost of building insulation materials in Italy, to the measurement of energy performance of a green roof, to the experimental measurement of different photovoltaic/thermal modules, to the development of a simulation software for direct and indirect evaporative cooling techniques, to the evaluation of different energy savings techniques for refrigeration and air conditioning in supermarkets, to an extensive analysis of the urban heat island effect in the city of Padova. The paper summarizes the main theoretical and experimental approaches, providing the methods adopted in each line of research. The main results of the studies conducted during the fifteen-year period are described and commented on, some of which were a well-established reference for the following literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the study of the urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon in Padua, a medium size city in the North-East of Italy, one of the most industrialized and developed parts of the country. Data recorded by two fixed meteorological stations (in the centre and out of Padua) during the period 1994–2011 were analysed, showing some increase in the UHI effect during this period. Experimental measurements were carried out during 2012 summer. The main thermo-hygrometric variables (dry-bulb temperature, relative humidity and global solar radiation) were measured by a mobile survey along an exact path, selected in order to cross different zones of the city area: urban, sub-urban and rural. The results indicate the presence of UHI effect in urban zones of the city up to 6 ℃. Some measurements in situ had been carried out in order to evaluate the mean radiant temperature (besides the other meteorological variables) in some characteristic sites of the city area: historic centre, high- and low-density populated residential zones, industrial zone and rural zone. Two simulation models were used to calculate some outdoor comfort indices and to evaluate the effect of some mitigation strategy in characteristic sites of the city. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Highlights: [•] A brief literature review is supplied concerning the urban heat island main causes. [•] We describe the experimental activities on the study of the UHI effect in Padua. [•] The measurements of two research groups of the University of Padua are described. [•] A UHI nightly effect till 6°C has been revealed in a medium size city like Padua. [•] Mean radiant temperature has been measured in some characteristic sites of the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]