Abstract
Although building energy renovation is a priority in the decarbonization strategy of the European Union, the implementation of conventional deep energy retrofit measures is often challenging when it comes to historical buildings, to which dedicated laws for heritage preservation apply. Furthermore, this building category represents a relevant share of the existing stock in some European countries, like Italy, and consequently requires specific efficiency measures. In this framework, this research focused on the potential improvement achievable through a smart energy retrofit approach and, specifically, through advanced control logics, such as Model Predictive Control. An historical office building in the Italian Alps was selected as a case-study and the effectiveness of different Model Predictive Control strategies simulated, discussing their impact on energy uses for space heating, indoor thermal comfort, and air quality.