The evaluation of the overall performance of a green building is complex, since many construction, energy and environmental aspects have to be considered. The Umbria Region in Italy, through various public tenders, recently funded several residential buildings, innovative in terms of construction quality, green technologies and sustainable solutions, such as natural building materials, integrated sunspaces, PV (photovoltaic) modules and solar collectors, geothermal heat pumps, that had to be adopted to obtain the public contribution. The University of Perugia carried out an extended monitoring of these buildings, in order to verify the actual achievement of design objectives, to certify the real savings in terms of energy and environmental loads and to assess the indoor comfort conditions for occupants. In situ thermal, acoustical and lighting measurements were carried out for more than one year. Energy simulations were performed by means of codes which implement the algorithms required by the Italian Law. Moreover, a comparison between real consumptions and simulated energy requirements was carried out. Finally, the buildings were characterized from the environmental sustainability point of view, using the method adopted by the Umbria Region. This assessment was borrowed from ITACA (Institute for Innovation and Transparency in Government Procurement and Environmental Compatibility) procedure [an Italian procedure similar to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)] and consists of 20 worksheets, one for each different performance indicator, at the aim of carefully describing the environmental quality of the building.

Noise exposure may cause auditory and extra-auditory effects. School teachers and students are exposed to high noise levels which have an impact on perceptual-cognitive and neurobehavioral aspects. The latter influence teaching conditions and student school performance. A Protocol was defined and parameters to be investigated were identified for acoustic characterization of unoccupied and occupied school environments, assessment of users by means of questionnaires completed by teachers and students, and vocal effort evaluation. Classrooms, laboratories, auditoriums, gymnasiums, common areas, canteens and outdoor areas were analysed in terms of acoustic features and identification of the origin of noise. The Protocol was tested in three kindergartens, three primary schools and three secondary schools placed in Rome, Florence and Perugia. Results of nine case studies are presented, including comparisons of objective and subjective investigations. Generally, the acoustic performances of the spaces under investigation do not meet the requirements of current Italian legislation. In particular, student activity determines high noise levels in laboratories, gymnasiums, and canteens. Students notice that noise mainly causes loss of concentration, fatigue, boredom, and headache. The outcomes of this research will be the starting point to define strategies and solutions for noise control and mitigation in schools and to draft guidelines for the acoustical school design.

In order to assess the contribution of sustainable mobility to improve environmental conditions in urban areas, new generation hybrid and electric models of mail delivery vehicles are analysed in terms of their noise emissions. Both vehicles use a 10% bioethanol and 90% gasoline mixture (E10) for recharging their batteries and they are equipped with a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS). The difference is the recharge modality: the hybrid vehicle is equipped on board with an E10 fuelled engine for the recharge of its electric batteries while the electric vehicle may be recharged by an E10 engine installed on a specific station (engine is not on board). The aims of the present paper are to carry out objective noise measurements representing realistic urban driving conditions and to compare the noise emissions of the tested vehicles with the ones of traditional postal vehicles. Vehicle sound pressure levels are evaluated according to the international standard ISO 362-1 and the UN/ECE Regulation n. 51 and they reflect a representative combination of all major noise sources. SEL measurements are also analysed as an alternative assessment of noise due to accelerating postal vehicles in actual traffic conditions. Finally all results are compared and their contribution to optimize vehicle noise emission is analysed.