Zero Windows per progetti futuri. Un percorso impegnativo fra transizione ecologica e transizione digitale

The evolution that has involved external window frames over the last century leads to a reflection on the innovation required to the current and future generations, which we could call Zero Windows, borrowing the expression from nZEB and recalling the concept of reducing consumption and resources. The study was conducted on a dual line: the ecological transition, ascertaining the quality of company production and installation and the tendency to certify them with labeling systems, and the digital transition, verifying the attention that the BIM methodology addresses to the executive project and to the acquisition of parameters on sustainability. The window frames produced today in Italy were analyzed in relation to both winter and summer behavior, in order to make up for a lack of the state of the art for more temperate climatic zones. The initial sample (no. 60 out of 82 consulted) has gradually been refined to include products for which certified installation and BIM objects supplied by companies are available. It has been deduced that the ecological transition is now underway and mature thanks to advanced technologies that increasingly respond to the principles of sustainability; the tendency to certify winter behavior continues to prevail, except for PVC window frames. Conversely, the digital transition is still in its infancy. The indications of national and international standards and guidelines are conflicting and lead to a summary geometric and informative modeling, not suited to an executive project, and to BIM objects whose content has only declaratory but non-certifying value. Moreover, little attention is paid to describe the ecological profile in a virtual environment. The only initiative going against the trend is the Italian library BIMreL, not considered by all Italian manufacturers who tend to use the more commercial web platforms. Therefore, the goal of the Zero Windows to arrive at the 4.0 generation still requires theoretical and operational efforts.