This paper deals with the experimental stage of an Italian research project aimed at testing the feasibility of municipal waste reuse for the designing of building envelopes for Zero-Energy Buildings. The first stage dealt with the designing of the single components, whilst the stage described in the present contribution is about the project for a pilot didactic class for the Mira Porte Primary school, located in the town of Mira (Venice, Italy). It is the result of a research agreement between the Interdepartmental Centre for Territory, Building, Conservation and Environment of the Sapienza University of Rome (CITERA) and the Municipality of Mira. Energy efficiency of public buildings and the creation of safe and healthy schools are central topics in current national and local Italian politics, topics which include incentives and funds. The paper describes the main architectural, technological and plant characteristics of the classroom project. The building is an NZEB, configured as an additional independent volume, placed in the courtyard of the existing school. It is composed of a room for 25 students and an adjoining winter garden which has both a bioclimatic and a didactic function. The main feature of the project is the use of prefab building components made from solid urban waste, in particular wooden pallets and tyres, instead of traditional building materials, so as to contribute to a decreasing demand for energy and improve eco-friendly waste management. The present experiment aims at demonstrating the behaviour of the components once they have been assembled into a built structure and the overall functioning of the building structure and its systems.

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The commitment for sustainability is a target for the Sustainable Universities Network. Sapienza University of Rome goes in this direction through the energy refurbishment of its building stock, i.e. all the educational buildings. Sapienza campus was built in the 30's and it needs a coherent improvement in terms of energy and environmental performance. Conventional energy retrofitting measures must be within a prioritazion framework to effectively take the most cost-effective strategy. Here, the case of the Chemistry Faculty building is analysed considering the improvement of the building envelope in compliance with the architectural values to be preserved as well as the integration of renewable energy plant. A model of building was used to study it and to create the scenarios and their architectural impact. Furthermore, an energy analysis of the designed refurbishment was carried out to identify the savings.

Among the adaptation measures against the climate change, energy saving in buildings is a crucial point. Detailed analysis to keep the operation of the building as well as its architectural features when listed is required. A school is selected as case study for its age of construction and potential of replicability due to its similarities for many other schools which make it an archetype. Building envelope and energy systems are the area of intervention supported by an experimental campaign to assess the status quo. Furthermore, the design complies with minimum environmental requirements by current regulation for public buildings. For the new proposed design, the target of high-efficient building is reachable even for so constrained existing building.