Le questioni energetiche nelle prassi di pianificazione dei centri storici. Un’indagine empirica su alcuni Comuni della Regione Sardegna.

Italian historical districts are planned through specific local plans, termed “detailed plans for historical districts” (Ppcs, from the Italian Piano particolareggiato del centro storico), which detail the provisions of urban land-use plans and aim to ensure the preservation of the traditional features of individual buildings and urban fabrics, and, ultimately, of Italian cultural heritage and urban landscapes. The provisions contained in the Ppcs are generally restrictive and focus on aesthetic aspects, such as the preservation of form, colours, and materials. This raises the issue of how to meet the needs of local communities and improve the attractiveness and liveability of historical neighbourhoods for residents so as to counter current trends of relevance to many European historic settlements, such as depopulation, gentrification, overtourism and misplacement of resident populations in favour of short-term rentals. In this context, this study examines the potential conflict between the preservation of historical neighbourhoods and the enhancement of their territorial capital, focusing on how energy issues are considered in some Sardinian Ppcs. By combining the logical framework approach with textual analysis, this study highlights three critical points, relating to the reuse of materials and buildings for the purpose of containing the overall energy footprint, to the marginal inclusion of energy efficiency and energy savings, and to the overly prescriptive regulation of energy production from renewable sources. This chapter proposes some reflections for a more effective inclusion of the above-mentioned three issues within planning tools, with the aim of promoting the overcoming of the dichotomy between the preservation of traditional features and the liveability of historical neighbourhoods.