The issues of sustainability and energy efficiency are among the most urgent fields of research for contemporary architecture, and one of the main focuses for the European political agenda. One of the key points of the European Green New Deal - the sustainable investment plan that should make the Old Continent "green" by 2050 - is in fact the construction sector.

In order to assess the environmental, ecological and social quality of this sector, a number of building certification protocols have been developed over the last few decades, which are recognised at national and international level. These are now considered fundamental references in the field.

In Italy, the A4 energy class is the highest one provided for by current law. The higher the classification of a building, the more efficient it will be and the fewer resources it will use for heating and cooling. Class A4 is obtained if the building is constructed according to green building standards.

Brianza Plastica's insulation products of the Isotec range contribute to the highest energy certification scores.

One of the latest case studies to illustrate the effectiveness of ventilated facades made with Isotec Parete is the Kennedy House in Scorzè, near Venice: a residential and commercial building project certified as energy class A4.

The building was designed by architects Giovanni Mognato and Roberto Cazzin, with engineer Letizia Niero. The project combines aesthetic research and high living comfort, innovative technologies and energy efficiency. The structure, which rises three storeys above ground, is powered by five photovoltaic systems, without connection to the gas network. The production of hot water and underfloor heating/cooling is entrusted to inverter heat pumps, while VMC systems ensure optimal recirculation and dehumidification of the indoor air.

A ventilated facade system was chosen for the facades, combined with an elegant corten effect porcelain stoneware cladding. Brianza Plastica's Isotec Parete system was selected for this solution. This is a prefabricated panel with a high-performance rigid polyurethane insulating core, covered on both sides with a sheet of aluminium to make it waterproof and equipped with an integrated metal stiffener to fix all the cladding and create a natural ventilation chamber.

Isotec Parete is characterised by high insulation performance (declared thermal conductivity ʎ_D= 0.022 W/mK), ease of installation and compatibility with all coverings. In this case it was ideal for accommodating and supporting the porcelain stoneware slabs chosen in the extended 120x30 cm format, fixed with clamps screwed to the stiffener of the Isotec Parete system.

Natural ventilation allows moisture to escape in cold seasons and, thanks to upward movement, heat from direct sunlight on the facades to be dispersed in summer. The Isotec Parete system adapts to different stratigraphies thanks to the various thicknesses (60, 80, 100, 120 and 160 mm). It is fixed to the substrate by means of a dowel system, completely dry. The stoneware slabs have been secured to the Isotec stiffener with clamps that fit into the kerf cuts in the thickness of the ceramics and are completely hidden from view when the work is finished.