Water-Energy-Efficient Solutions for Residential Buildings: A Comparison Between Italian and Spanish Legislations

Abstract

This research proposes a comparative analysis of the criteria for the construction and installation of plumbing and wastewater evacuation systems in residential buildings. Facility regulations tend to differ depending on the country in which they are enacted. These regulatory differences should not exist since the same rights must be enjoyed regardless of the place where the property is located. For this, the applicable regulations in force in Italy, Spain, and Europe have been taken as a reference. These standards have been analyzed to understand the different uses of the relative countries, but also the motivations that stimulate a design in a specific direction. It has been concluded that the water supply installation is more efficient according to the Spanish regulations, and the water evacuation installation is way more optimal with the union of both regulations. The European Union provides a broader legal framework, and Member States follow these guidelines according to their specific context. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.