Toward a Technical Characterization of Green Neighborhoods in North-Eastern Italy

This chapter delves into the technical characterization of green neighborhoods in North-Eastern Italy, emphasizing the energy transition and its implications for inclusive urban development. It highlights the critical role of energy efficiency and renewable energy actions in the housing sector, aiming to achieve long-term improvements such as job creation and health benefits. The chapter underscores the distributive consequences of decarbonization policies, which can expose vulnerable social groups to energy poverty if mitigation measures are not applied. It explores the challenges posed by rising fossil fuel prices and the European Commission's accelerated transition to renewable energy sources. The energy retrofit of social housing is identified as a priority for reducing energy poverty and improving building efficiency. The chapter also discusses the need for a joint effort between social housing users and property owners to implement holistic energy-saving actions. It introduces the concept of Sustainable and Efficient Districts (SED), which aim to enhance climate change resilience through conscious energy use and data-driven policies. The chapter provides a systematic literature review, categorizing studies into those focusing on spatial configurations, energy and technological aspects, and social or participatory perspectives. It also compares different evaluation methods for SEDs and discusses urban and technical aspects in defining potential Renewable Energy Communities (RECs). The chapter concludes by proposing strategies and indicators to characterize SEDs, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder engagement and the need for a holistic, inclusive approach to sustainable urban development.