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Hemp-lime composite is a natural material, which is being increasingly used and studied in the construction sector, thanks to its recyclability, hygrothermal comfort and healthiness features. The aim of this paper is to test the benefits in terms of energy efficiency achieved through the use of hemp-lime composite as insulation in a possible refurbishment intervention. With the aim of extending the knowledge about the benefits achieved through from the integration of this natural material into construction production process, a real building in south of Italy was selected and a substitution of the standard gypsum-lime plaster with a hemp-lime one was simulated by means of a specific software (Termus® by Acca Sotware, Bagnoli Irpino, Italy), serving for the assessment of the energy performance. Case study analysis highlighted the good thermal insulation properties of hemp-based plaster, allowing thermal dispersion to decrease in the winter season and improve the summer performance of the walls by approximately 20% compared to traditional plaster. This results in a one-level improvement of the building in energy classification according to Italian regulation.

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7Measuring water content in buildings of historical value requires non-invasive techniques to avoid the 8 damage that sample taking or probe insertion may cause to the investigated walls. With this aim, a stepped 9 frequency ground penetrating radar (GPR) system was tested to assess its applicability in moisture 10 measurements of porous masonry elements. The technique was tested on a real scale wall made with yellow 11Neapolitan tuff bricks, a material commonly found in historical buildings of Campania (Southern Italy). First, 12 the antenna was calibrated to find its characteristic transfer functions. Then 64 GPR acquisitions, coupled 13 with gravimetric measurements of the volumetric water content, were performed on the tuff wall in 14 laboratory controlled conditions. A full inverse modelling of the GPR signal on tuff was used to retrieve 15 dielectric permittivity and electrical conductivity of tuff at various water contents. By linking these 16 characteristic electromagnetic parameters to the water content, the calibration relationships specific for 17 yellow Neapolitan tuff are defined, which can be used for moisture measurements by GPR in real case 18 studies. The experimental results lead to a robust identification of clearly defined monotonic relationships 19 for dielectric permittivity and electrical conductivity. These are characterized by high values of the 20 correlation coefficient, indicating that both parameters are potentially good proxies for water content of 21 tuff. The results indicate that GPR represents a promising indirect technique for reliable measurements of 22 water content in tuff walls and, potentially, in other porous building materials. 23