Elena Fregonara

Elena Fregonara is a professor in the Department of Architecture and Design at Politecnico di Torino, where she conducts research at the intersection of sustainable architecture, real estate economics, and environmental policy. Her work emphasizes life cycle thinking, circular economy principles, and the integration of environmental costs into financial decision-making in the construction sector.

• Institution: Politecnico di Torino
• Department: Department of Architecture and Design
• Research Focus: Sustainable Architecture, Life Cycle Assessment, Real Estate Appraisal, Circular Economy

Her research interests revolve around sustainable urban development, with a strong emphasis on the economic evaluation of building sustainability. She investigates how embodied energy, carbon emissions, daylight, and green attributes influence real estate values and investment decisions. Her work bridges theoretical economics with practical applications in public procurement, urban regeneration, and building retrofitting.

The trends in her recent publications show a consistent focus on integrating environmental externalities into traditional economic models. She employs life cycle costing (LCC), life cycle assessment (LCA), structural equation modeling, and net present value (NPV) frameworks to evaluate sustainability across scales—from materials to urban systems. Her research increasingly addresses policy implications, especially in public procurement and urban governance.

Elena Fregonara has contributed to significant research initiatives such as the “Circular Design for Natural Fibers” (CD4NF) project under the PNRR, reflecting her engagement with national sustainability strategies. She has no listed scientific awards in the provided data.

She has collaborated extensively with researchers such as Diego G. Ferrando, Alice Barreca, and Irene Rubino on topics including building upcycling, discount rate modeling, and sustainable public procurement. While her mentorship of students is not explicitly detailed, her collaborative work suggests active engagement in research teams and academic networks. She is involved in developing methodological tools like the “Smart SPP LCC-CO2 Tool” for sustainable decision-making.

Her research lab or team is not explicitly named, but her involvement in EU and PNRR-funded projects indicates leadership or key roles in interdisciplinary research groups focused on sustainable construction and urban development.