The activities of the table are mainly:

1.        Studies and surveys of the indoor comfort of buildings

Two buildings ("Nave" and "Aule Nord") that will soon undergo heavy refurbishment are being monitored in terms of heating and cooling demand and environmental comfort: the goal of the surveys is to avoid the equipment of rooms with air conditioning (not present today in those buildings) and to propose more efficient and energy-saving solutions that initially explore the redesign of the building envelope. In particular, a BIM model and environmental simulations along with comfort surveys in the summer and winter, and the monitoring of consumption data are used to inform the design of innovative solutions.

2.        Studies and surveys of the outdoor comfort on campus

Following the general goal to improve livability conditions at the Campus Leonardo, a methodology has been proposed which deals with the environmental analysis of the open spaces and aims to provide design specifications and strategies to improve microclimate and comfort conditions. First of all, the definition of the protocol for comfort measurements and surveys was carried out in order to map the occurrence of critical situations. A quick field survey was conducted to "test" the method inside the Campus in July 2011. Three activities were implemented during the three time periods of the survey (morning, lunch time and afternoon): measurements of microclimatic parameters, a questionnaire about thermal perception and the observation of open space users' behaviors.

3.        Studies on Green areas

According to the general aim to strengthen the ecological system on campus, we started a series of activities, namely:

-          the construction of the Green Cadaster by mapping the presence of vegetation on campus, using GIS and the 3-D model of the campus;

-          studies on greenways and the opportunity to reconnect the district to the larger regional network and increase the overall bio-potentiality; 

-          Researches and studies for the renewal of open spaces were collected, with a particular focus on Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, which represents the main gate to the campus and will be soon renovated with public investment. Our studies will be offered to the public authorities and intended as guidelines for the renewal project of the park.

4.        Waste management initiatives

According to the reorganization of the waste management on campus, a series of initiatives carried out by the POLIMI technical office are carried out in indoor and outdoor spaces:

Indoor:

-       Differentiated waste collectionof paper and plastics is already in place in the classrooms and common spaces, as well in all the departments and offices.

-       A series of instructions (posters) have been prepared to be put on the white garbage collectors for paper and on the green ones for the glass collection.

-       A census of the differentiated waste collection will be organized in order to improve efficiency of collection.

-       A pilot university residencewas chosen for introducing an improved waste management, in particular waste and water management, oil collection, increasing recycling with specific containers, along with awareness and training of the users.

Waste management outdoors. A more efficient management of waste collection in the open spaces is under investigation. The introduction of differentiated waste collection outdoors is one of the main goals.

-       A census of garbage quantity (volume) produced on campus is ongoing. This investigation should help in the reorganization for a more rational waste collection. The monitoring of plasticconsumptionwas scheduled in the near future.

-       Moreover, new compactorsfor the quantification of waste (dry waste, paper and cartons) were purchased.

-       The re-organization of the ecological garbage collection area was carried out recently.

-       Application of the "Wastenergy Project" developed in order to introduce specific garbage containers equipped with a new patented system for volume and weight measurement, in real time, transmitted to a receiver, to the trucks and to the Control Center of the collection system.

-       Study forthe reuse ofmaterials from construction or waste (mainly paper, plastic and glass) for the making of new products (for example concrete).