Energy: Energy efficiency, ENEA studies off-site building renovation

The use of OSC (Off-Site Construction) prefabricated components can offer multiple benefits for building renovations. This is the main finding of a study conducted by ENEA within the framework of the OFFICIO project^[1], developed in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano, the Università Politecnica delle Marche, and the University of Bologna. The analysis, authored by researchers Claudia Toro, Carlos Herce, Miriam Benedetti, and Tiziana Susca from the ENEA Energy Efficiency Department, examined the Italian off-site construction value chain. This approach enables faster, more cost-effective, and sustainable building renovations using prefabricated components manufactured in factories, transported to construction sites, and installed on-site.

“The economic and environmental benefits of OSC include shorter construction times, better cost control in production, and reduced on-site costs, as well as lower consumption of resources, waste, and water, resulting in lower emissions,” explains Claudia Toro. “In addition to these, there are social benefits as well, since the technique minimizes disruption for residents during works and increases safety for workers,” she adds.

In Italy, External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS) are the most common type of intervention for the renovation of the building stock. According to ENEA's study, the ETICS industry, having grown by 50% between 2017 and 2021, thanks in part to government incentives, is among those most compatible with the principles of OSC.

The publication also provides a detailed mapping of the sector, identifying 27 companies specializing in OSC among the 116 Italian firms involved in the production and commercialization of thermal insulation solutions (including insulation panels, anchoring systems, reinforcements, and components for ventilated façades). These are mainly highly innovative SMEs specialized in dry construction solutions.

The study also focused on analyzing innovative and sustainable materials to produce thermal insulation that can be used in off-site applications. Among the materials identified, at least 20 show strong sustainability potential, being made from resources readily available in Italy—such as wool processing waste, cellulose, and recycled polyurethane from packaging.

“Despite its growth, OSC still faces significant challenges related to sector fragmentation, limited awareness of available technologies, and difficulties in recruitment of specialized construction workers,” explains Carlos Herce. “Together with various companies and trade associations, we identify effective drivers to overcome the main barriers for the adoption of OSC technologies. These enablers include knowledge exchange, promotion of best practices, the development of guidelines and policy recommendations to guide public strategies and foster the spread of OSC solutions in the Italian construction market,” he adds.

The OFFICIO project aims, in the coming years, to further support the development of new business models, because “only by combining material innovation with construction efficiency can we chart a path toward the renovation of the built environment that meets today’s ecological and economic challenges,” conclude the researchers.

[1]This research was funded by the National Electrical System Research Program, implemented under programme agreements between the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security and ENEA, CNR, and RSE S.p.A.