Why do old Gallura houses disperse so much heat

Ancient granite houses were mainly built with:

• Massive stone masonry;

• Earth and lime-based mortars;

• roofs without insulation;

• floors directly in contact with the ground;

• Very simple or non-performing fixtures.

Despite the great thermal inertia of granite, these dwellings often exhibit:

• thermal bridges;

• air infiltration;

• moisture;

• Leakage through the roof;

• Poor plant efficiency.

Very often the biggest problem is not only winter cold, but also indoor humidity and summer comfort.

Efficiency of a stand without ruining it

One of the most common mistakes is to treat a stazzo as a modern house.

In historic buildings, it is essential to use compatible and breathable materials, avoiding solutions that prevent masonry from “breathing.”

The goal should not be to completely seal the building, but to improve its performance while maintaining the correct hygrometric balance.

The most effective interventions in the Gallurese stazzi

Roof insulation

In most historic buildings, the roof is the main source of heat loss.

The insertion of an insulation layer under the roof makes it possible to:

• Dramatically reduce leakage;

• Improving summer comfort;

• Limit the formation of condensation;

• Increase the value of the property.

Very often they are used:

• wood fiber panels;

• rock wool;

• natural cork;

• High-performance sandwich panels.

Thermal and breathable plasters

In granite buildings, it is often not advisable to apply traditional coats that are too waterproof.

For this reason, a widely used solution is thermal plasters based on natural lime.

These materials allow:

• improved breathability;

• The reduction of thermal bridges;

• An improvement in indoor comfort;

• The limitation of surface condensation.

Ventilated crawl space and moisture management

In many stazzi the floor rests directly on the ground.

Making a ventilated crawl space allows you to:

• Reduce rising damp;

• Improving living comfort;

• Limit mold and odor;

• Improve the overall energy efficiency of the building.

Replacement of air conditioning systems

Many older homes still use very inefficient systems.

Today, one of the most cost-effective solutions is to install:

• heat pumps;

• hybrid systems;

• radiant systems;

• heat pump water heater;

• Integrated photovoltaic systems.

Heat pumps make it possible to heat and cool rooms while consuming much less energy than conventional systems.

Integrated photovoltaics in historic buildings

Photovoltaic systems can also be installed in stazzi, as long as they are designed with attention to the landscape context.

Today there are solutions:

• integrated into the cover;

• low visual impact;

• With colorations compatible with traditional roofs;

• Combined with storage batteries.

This makes it possible to significantly reduce annual energy costs.

Tax incentives available in 2026

One of the most attractive aspects of energy efficiency concerns the possibility of recouping a significant portion of the investment through government incentives.

Ecobonus

For individuals, tax deductions for energy efficiency measures are still available.

In 2026, Ecobonus generally provides:

• 50% deduction for main dwellings;

• 36% deduction for second homes.

Deductions are recovered through tax returns over several years.

Renovation bonus

In some cases, interventions may also fall under the Renovation Bonus, with rates similar to the Ecobonus and specific ceilings for building works.

Conto Termico 3.0: the most attractive non-refundable subsidy

For many owners of Gallura stazzi and houses, the Conto Termico 3.0 represents one of the most convenient solutions today.

Unlike tax deductions, the Conto Termico is not an IRPEF deduction, but a direct contribution disbursed by the GSE to the beneficiary’s bank account.

How much can be recovered

For individuals, the Conto Termico 3.0 can cover up to 65 percent of eligible expenses, depending on the type of intervention and the characteristics of the system installed.

Incentive interventions mainly include:

• heat pumps;

• heat pump water heater;

• hybrid systems;

• High-efficiency biomass;

• solar thermal.

Main advantage: quick repayment

One of the most advantageous aspects of the Conto Termico is the speed of repayment.

For lower amounts, the grant can also be disbursed in a single installment within a few months of file approval.

This makes the Conto Termico particularly attractive for those who want to upgrade a stazzo without waiting years to recoup their investment through tax deductions.

Efficiency without losing the identity of the stazzo

The real goal of energy efficiency in historic buildings is not to transform them into modern buildings, but to improve their comfort, healthiness and efficiency while respecting their original identity.

Each stazzo possesses different characteristics and requires a specific study that takes into account:

• moisture;

• thermal behavior;

• Typology of masonry;

• exposure;

• natural ventilation;

• Landscape constraints.

By intervening correctly, it is possible not only to reduce energy consumption, but also to preserve and enhance the historical heritage of Gallura for future generations.