The Rectorate building of the Vera campus of the Universitat Politècnica de València has recently been awarded the energy rating A. The building is the first building on campus to achieve this level of energy efficiency. This achievement is especially significant, given that the building was constructed in 1978, highlighting the potential of retrofitting to improve the energy performance and architectural quality of existing buildings.
This rating is the result of a strategy sustained over time, based on the progressive improvement in the building’s performance. In previous phases, the building envelope was treated by replacing carpentry and improving insulation. More recently, thanks to the PIREP program grants financed with European NextGenerationEU funds. The integral intervention has been carried out, including:
- the complete rehabilitation of the roof,
- renovation of the air conditioning system,
- and the incorporation of photovoltaic generation facilities for self-consumption.
These actions are part of the strategy promoted by the Vice-Rector’s Office for Sustainable Campus Development aimed at the continuous improvement of the energy efficiency of the university building stock, as well as obtaining and updating the energy certifications of all campus buildings. The complete management of this action has been carried out by the Infrastructure Service.
Beyond the result obtained, the A energy rating of the Rectorate building is an example of the role that retrofitting can play in the ecological transition of the built environment. As opposed to replacement, the gradual and planned improvement of existing buildings is consolidating itself as a fundamental principle of circularity applied to architecture.